Eleanor Carter Thomas

Eleanor Carter Thomas, 89, of Valdosta, and formerly of Jacksonville, Florida, died on Friday, March 24, 2023, at Langdale Hospice House following a period of declining health. She was born in Waycross, Georgia on March 29, 1933, to the late Luther and Rhoda Lavada Wilcox Carter. She was a homemaker and of the Methodist faith. Her family moved to Portsmouth, Virginia when she was six years old, and she graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. Her family attended Central Methodist Church where she sang in the choir as a young person.

While working at the Virginian-Pilot newspaper, she met her future husband, Robert Edward Thomas, of Craddock, Virginia. They were married July 12, 1958 and began their life in Richmond, Virginia where Bob worked for Seaboard Coastline Railroad in the auditing department.

In 1968, they moved to Jacksonville, Florida with CSX Railroad and were there until 2014. Eleanor was a great school classroom mom and sports team supporter for her children. She loved the beach, flowers and shopping.

Mrs. Thomas is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Carol Thomas Schultz of Matthews, North Carolina, and Susan and Jim Elliott of Valdosta; her son, Robert Edward Thomas, Jr., of Canton, Georgia; grandchildren Molly and Thomas Schultz of Matthews, NC, Ret, Richmond and Sayler Thomas of Canton, GA, Brawley Thomas of Charlotte, NC, Gus Elliott of Atlanta, GA, Alex Elliott of Encampment, WY, Carter Elliott of Newnan, GA and great granddaughter Ava Thomas of Alpharetta, GA. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Dolores Thomas of Rose Valley, PA and nieces and nephews Jim and Jeanne Thomas, Bill and Kathy Thomas, Lisa Carroll, Becky and Jeremy Atack, Sarah Wood, Laura and Barry Klutz, John and Michelle Wood, Bob Oliver, Jerry and Mary Beth Oliver, Tim Oliver and Mark Tillinghast.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Robert Edward Thomas, her parents and brothers Royce Vance Carter, William Earl Carter and sister and brother-in-law Laverne Carter Oliver and Robert Oliver, and brother-in-law Jay Thomas, and sisters-in-law Wilma Taylor and Jean Wood, and nephews Chip Wood and Bob Thomas and grand-nephew Andrew Carroll.

The family expresses their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the fine, generous folks at Langdale Place and Langdale Hospice House for the excellent, loving care they gave to our mother.

A memorial service for Eleanor Thomas will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 2 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Waxhaw, North Carolina with The Rev. Jim Elliott officiating. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane.