William Anthony Thomas

A celebration of life for William Anthony Thomas will be held Saturday, August 20, 2022 at noon, at Grace United Methodist Church, 3145 Washington Street, Covington. Rev. Dr. Robert Lee Crawford, pastor; Rev. John Childers, eulogist.

On August 10, 1965, William Anthony Thomas was born to Emma Marie Davis and the late William Lewis Thomas (Gwen) in Jasper County, Monticello, Ga.

Affectionately known as “WilI” by family and friends, he graduated from Hughes High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1983. Will immediately went on to serve the country in the United States Army that same year, where his specialties included Food Service and Water Treatment. Some of his duty locations included Ft. Bragg, N.C., Vicenza, Italy and Georgia.

In addition, he earned the Additional Skill Identifier of Airborne along with the coveted “Red Beret” after completing the Airborne course during his first enlistment. During his second enlistment, Will joined the Georgia Army National Guard, where he was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Will received an honorable discharge in 2005.

William always enjoyed spending time with his family and was known for being an amazing artist. He earned his Associate Degree of Science in Graphic Design from Sanford-Brown College.

Will departed this life one day after his 57th birthday, on August 11, 2022. He is survived by his mother, Emma Davis; stepmother, Gwendolyn Catchings; two children, LaToya Phylisha Thomas (Matthew) and William Anthony Thomas; siblings Sheila Cooksey (Melvin), Deborah Walker (Jerry), Tracey Butler (Harvey), Terry Thomas, Michael Thomas (Sheba), and Kelli Davis; and grandchildren Jaivehon Thomas, Arraiah Thomas, Caiden Thomas, and Sky Thomas. He was also preceded in death by his father, William Lewis Thomas.

Final arrangements entrusted to Smith and Sons Funeral Home, 923 Funderburg Drive, Monticello, Ga. 31064; 706-468-6625; smithfunhm@bellsouth.net; www.smithandsonsfuneralhomemonticello.com