Jackie “Jack” Thomas, 84, of Oakmonte Villages in Lake Mary, Florida, went to be with the Lord on June 29, 2024, at 6:40 PM. He was born in Eastanollee, Georgia, to Tinsley S. and Sallie Mae (Stowe) Thomas on April 9, 1940.
Jack is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Sherrill (Smedlund) Thomas; son David (Jackie) Thomas; son-in-law Kurt Grotler; grandchildren Josh, Jeremy (Jenna), and Sarah Grotler, Jared and Amy Thomas; great-grandchildren Collins, Naomi, Ben, Jack and Samarah; brother Buddy Thomas; brother-in-law Bill Smedlund, sister-in-law Joy (Bob) Whitney; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He is preceded in death by his parents, daughter Karen Grotler, siblings Mozelle (Coy) Moore, Melvin (Sarah) Thomas, and Max (Peggy) Thomas, and sister-in-law Mary Nell Thomas.
Jack loved to sing and was well known for his beautiful tenor voice. He began serving the Lord in music ministry during his High School years and continued faithfully until he retired from full-time music ministry in 2002 after serving as Minister of Music at Central Baptist Church in Sanford, Florida, for more than 23 years. Jack truly loved leading people to worship the Lord through music. He and Sherrill made a great ministry team and were used by the Lord at churches in Nevada, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. After retirement, they sold their house, bought an RV, and traveled across the US for three years before settling into their dream home in the mountains of northeast Georgia. After living near their daughter, Karen, in Greer, South Carolina, for a few years, Jack and Sherrill moved back to Sanford in December of 2023.
Jack was humble, gentle, loyal to a fault, and truly loved people. He had an easy smile and was quick to laugh. When you saw the twinkle in his eye, you knew he was up to something. He dearly loved his family and was one of their strongest prayer warriors. Jack was also very patriotic and extremely proud to have served his country in the Air Force back in the early 1960s.
Jack will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Celebration of Life will be held at Westview Baptist Church, 4100 H E Thomas Jr. Pkwy., Sanford, FL, on Saturday, July 6, 2024. There will be a time of visitation at 10:00 AM, with a service at 11:00 AM.
The service will be live-streamed on Jack’s daughter-in-law’s (Jackie Thomas) Facebook page.
There will be a graveside service at Liberty Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Toccoa, GA, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, 2024.
DeGusipe Funeral Home and Crematory in Orlando, Florida, is in charge of the arrangements. (407) 695-2273
