Lena Thomas

Lena Bacote Thomas, the daughter of the late Ed Bacote and the late Fannie Bacote (Zimmerman), was born on May 26th 1927 in Baltimore, Maryland. The family moved to Pinehurst, North Carolina and after the death of her father in 1937, the family moved to Philadelphia, PA, and stayed with her aunt, Essie and her grandmother, Serena. Lena joined St. John Baptist Church pastored by the late Reverend James H. Dudley. In later years, St. John Baptist Church and Second Shiloh Baptist Church merged. In her youth Lena was an usher, a member of the senior choir, the adult fellowship club, the JH Dudley memorial chorus, a trustee aide, and more recently a Mother emirate of the Church.

Lena was educated in the Philadelphia Public School System at: Reynolds Elementary, Robert Vaux Junior High, and Simon Gratz High Schools. On September 20th, 1945, Lena was united in marriage to the late Roy L. Thomas. Of that union two children were born: Roy Raymond and Sharon Janelle Thomas. Lena worked at United State Marine Corps for many years. She retired from Albert Einstein Medical Center on June 1st, 1989 after 24 years of dedicated service. Her hobbies included reading, cooking, music which helped her bear her burdens, nature, and quiet time communing with God.

Lena’s three brothers and two sisters, preceded her in death. In her home going, she leaves to cherish her memories: Roy Raymond Thomas (Linda), and Sharon Janelle Mitchell (Willie); Six Grandchildren: Trinna (Carl), Tonia (Robert), William (Lilly), Raymond, Jonathan and Tamara; 15 Great Grandchildren: LaSonjia, Alisha, Shatiera, JoVanna (who preceded her in death), Adrianne (Calvin), Carl, William Jr, Alexandria, Maya, Raeanna, Damarae, Kimora, Nathanial, Matthew, and Callie; she was very blessed to see 12 Great-Great Grandchildren: Shermik, LaSonjia, Amore, Jamil, Jayla, Damien, Deja-lee, DeShawn, Aliyah, Achilles, Calvin III (who preceded her in death) and Reign, a special cousin Berlin, and many other caring family members, and wonderful longtime neighbors, and friends.