Virginia Thomas

Virginia Thomas Obituary Virginia McDonald was born on March 18, 1928 in Wayne County, Mississippi to Randall McDonald and Creola Orange. She was the oldest child of three daughters. Katie Lee McDonald(Mason) and Delois Elaine McDonald(Williams) were her siblings. Virginia was raised on her father, Randall McDonald and grandfather, Alonzo Orange's farmland on Pleasant Grove Altair Road in Wayne County, Mississippi. As a child, Virginia and her sisters worked with their father on the farm. They had daily chores like cleaning the house, gardening, helping plant and harvest crops (fruits, vegetables, & nut trees), raise and feed livestock, etc. Growing up on a farm gave Virginia responsibility at a very young age. It helped her develop a strong work ethic, learn the value of a dollar, know what it means to be selfless, and it shaped her understanding of life. Virginia embodied these things more as she got older on her journey of "LIFE". The McDonald’s moved shortly after Virginia’s father purchased more land in the city of Laurel, Mississippi. In Laurel, Virginia met Murray Thomas, who was her neighbor and childhood friend. They went to school and played together as children growing up on Anderson Street in Mississippi. A year after he returned from World War II, on April 9th 1947, Murray asked Virginia to marry him. A few months later, they had their first child Carolyn Thomas (Campbell) together. The newly married couple lived in a house on a piece of land that her father owned, and her uncle LeeVurtus McDonald built on Anderson Street. By 1956, Virginia had three more children, Linda Chinita Thomas (Robinson), Murray Thomas Jr., and Michael Angelo Thomas. Cleveland, Ohio became their new home away from home after Murray Sr. found a job and a house for his family to live in. Virginia worked for Brooks Brothers as a seamstress, and Murray worked at Gillingham Ford. They both worked part time jobs also for extra income in the household. At the age of 36, Virginia had her fifth and final child Muriel Louise Thomas (Walker). Virginia and Murray's goal was to work hard in order to provide their children with the basic necessities to get a good education. They felt that going to school, getting a trade, and having a career would create a foundation so that they would be able to support themselves or family later on in life. By the time Virginia and her husband retired in 1991, all five of the children accomplished their parents goal. There were also three new additions to the family: Deanna Dunham (Renn), Darnella Dunham (James), & Edward Charles Campbell II (Grandchildren). Upon their retirement in 1991, Virginia and Murray’s plan was travel and see the world. Unfortunately, on January 20, 1992, her husband passed away. Virginia was able to fulfill both of their dreams. She didn’t only travel from California to Florida, she traveled the world. She visited the Bahamas, Germany, France, Czechoslovakia, and various other places While at home living a retired life, Virginia started her own at home dry cleaning business. She continued her craft as a seamstress after retiring from Brooks Brothers by cleaning, sewing, and tailoring clothes for family and friends. Virginia was always a busy body even in her 70’s. Her hobbies were gardening, cooking, reading, sewing/making quilts, fishing, playing cards, throwing block parties for the children in the neighborhood, watching television, sitting on the porch or in the garage tasting, listening to music, and one of her all time favorites was speaking her mind or in other words "cussing" you out at the same time. Virginia’s health took a sudden turn after returning from her annual trip to California visiting her son-in-law, Roy Dunham during the COVID 19 Pandemic. In mid October she began to lose circulation from her knees down, resulting in not being able to stand or walk. On November 15th, Virginia had a stroke. Her strong spirit kept her fighting through it all. At the age of 92, on November 25th 2020 around noon Virginia was called home from the comfort of her own home. She was preceded in death by her parents, Randall (69) and Creola McDonald (78); her grandparents, Lum (86) and Annie McDonald (71) & Alonzo (69) and Katie Orange (82); her husband, Murray Thomas Sr.(66); her sister, Katie Lee Mason (67); son, Murray Thomas Jr. (50); and daughter Linda Robinson (64). Virginia leaves to mourn her sister, Delois Williams (89); children, Carolyn Campbell (73), Michael Thomas Sr. (64), Muriel Walker (56); grandchildren, Deanna Renn (50), Darnella James (46), Edward Charles Campbell II (39), Michael Thomas Jr.(35); great grandchildren, Donovan Renn, Alexis Renn, Jett James, Austin James; two daughter-in-laws, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Virginia Thomas, please visit our floral store. Read More

Virginia Thomas

March 18, 1928 - November 25, 2020