Cora Lee Thomas

Cora Lee (Saylor) Thomas, 88, of Mechum's River, Virginia, died on Friday, April 9, 2010, after a lengthy battle with stomach cancer. She had resided at Hospice House for the past three months.

Cora was born in Mitchell County, North Carolina, on February 5, 1922, to the late Henry Arther Saylor and Nola (Buchanan) Saylor. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Ray Saylor formerly of Cullen, Virginia, and Lucille (Saylor) Krygier, formerly of South Carolina.

In addition to her parents, her brother and sister, she was also preceded in death by her beloved husband of 66 years, Bernis E. Thomas, who died on September 29, 2009. They were a remarkable couple. Their faith in God carried them through some terrible events. A son, David Arther Thomas died on Christmas Day, 1979. He was 25 years old. A daughter, Juanita Ann "Judy" (Thomas) Shiflet died on March 5, 1985 from scleraderma - a disease which took such a toll on her health for many years. She was almost 39 years old when she died. A granddaughter, Monica Lorraine (Thomas) Maxim died in January 2009. She was 30 years old.

Two children survive mom, a son, Kenneth E. Thomas and his wife, Betty, of Mechum's River, Virginia; and a daughter, Alice Marie (Thomas) Haney and her husband, James Edward Haney, of Palmyra, Virginia. She is also survived by a sister, Anna Mae (Saylor) Taylor of Cullen, Virginia; and two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Hazel (Thomas) Bauernfeind of Baltimore, Maryland, and the Reverend Joyce Kramer of Virginia Beach, Virginia. There are six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren who survive her. Many nieces and cousins survive her, too. Mom had the job of raising children, while Dad was often overseas.

They were married in 1943, so he was serving his country during wartime and was in danger many times. He had a career in the United States Navy. When he retired in 1958, we moved to our home at Mechum's River, near Crozet, Virginia. Soon, mom was working alongside of Mrs. Agnes Sandridge of Crozet, Virginia, managing the school cafeteria at Crozet Elementary. Later she worked some at Brownsville Elementary. Our parents served faithfully in their church, Hillsboro Baptist in Yancey's Mill, Virginia.

They were also active members of the Douglas Hall Kirby VFW Post 8436 in Yancey's Mill, Virginia.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, May 15, 2010, at Hillsboro Baptist Church. There will be a reception following at the church. Burial for our parents will be for family only at Hillsboro Church Cemetery.

The family wishes to acknowledge the Hospice of the Piedmont for their help in our parents' care since 2009. Also, the Hospice House on Park Street gave mom such loving care the last months of her life.

We ask that contributions be made either to the Douglas Hall Kirby VFW Post 8436 at Yancey's Mill, Virginia, or to Hospice of the Piedmont. We appreciate all the expressions of love from friends and family to Mom and Dad over the years. As they blessed many lives, they were blessed by the love of so many of you.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.