Jennifer Thomas

Jennifer Fay Jackson Thomas — a woman who could outwit a tornado and out love us all — sashayed her way out of this world on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 5:01 p.m. Born to Wiley Jackson and Annie Parker on January 11, 1943, Jennifer entered the world with sass in her spirit and a sparkle in her eye, ensuring her life would never be described as dull.

In 1959, she married George Hazzard Thomas, a man who no doubt realized quickly that he had landed a firecracker. George was no ordinary man — he was an Army Special Forces Green Beret and Ranger, and together they made an extraordinary pair. They created a life filled with laughter, chaos, and seven children. Yes, seven. Mom loved her kids fiercely but always maintained the right amount of sarcasm to keep them in line. “You do what I said” was her official motto, and heaven help anyone who questioned it.

Jennifer faced life’s challenges with unmatched grace. She battled heart failure, kidney failure, gastric bleeds, and breast cancer, showing a resilience that left everyone in awe. Her strength was as legendary as her coffee-drinking habit; there was no tea in her cup, only the strongest brew to match her character.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Wiley and Annie; her beloved husband George; her cherished daughter, Karen Elaine; and several siblings who have no doubt greeted her with open arms, ready for a reunion filled with hugs and laughter.

Jennifer’s passing leaves a legacy of love and a sprawling family tree, including her surviving children, George Anthony Thomas (wife Linda), Gloria Ann Jackson, Timothy Dwayne Thomas, Stephen Edward Thomas (wife Susan), Edward Joseph Thomas (wife Anita), and Christy Louise Thomas. She is also survived by a multitude of grandchildren, an ever-growing number of great-grandchildren, and a budding generation of great-great-grandchildren. Jennifer’s family was her greatest pride, and her influence will be felt for generations.

Jennifer may have been a stay-at-home mom, but there was nothing simple about her role. She was the CEO of her household, running it with wisdom, love, and a good dose of sass. Her kitchen was her command center, and her homemade buttermilk biscuits were the stuff of legend. She kept the home running like a well-oiled machine, and her strength, humor, and unwavering devotion to her family made her truly one of a kind.

Jennifer’s passing marks the end of an era for a family who has relied on her strength, her wisdom, and her legendary meals. Her legacy lives on in the love and lessons she’s instilled in all of us.
Mom, we hope you’re up there sipping coffee, watching over us, and trading stories with Dad. We promise to keep the sass alive and to love one another. Rest now. You’ve earned it, beautiful.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that family and friends donate to the American Kidney Fund and to Breast Cancer Research, both donation links can be found below.

A visitation for family and friends will be held at Adcock Funeral Home on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 1 p.m., a service will follow in the Adcock Funeral Home Chapel at 3 p.m. A graveside service will be held at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery on February 7, 2025 at 2 p.m.