Thomas Stith

Thomas Stith HOUSTON - Thomas Stith, 75, passed away Aug. 24, 2008, in Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, Sugar Land, Texas. He was born May 1, 1933, in Norfolk County, Virginia, the thirteenth of 16 children of the late Coleman Stith and Lannie Lillian Trant Stith. Thomas accepted Jesus Christ at an early age at Noble Street Baptist Church, Portsmouth. He was a member of First Lutheran Church, Portsmouth. Thomas graduated from Norfolk County High School and North Carolina Central College at Durham, N.C., with a B.S. in Physical Education. He studied at Norfolk State College, The College of William and Mary and Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in Houston. He served in the U.S. Army as a medic. He had a 40-plus years professional career as an educator, coach, administrator and real estate agent in Virginia and Texas. Thomas is survived by his wife of 51 years, Helen Regina Jacobs Stith; two daughters, Bené Stith Thomas and husband Dwain of Richmond, Texas, and Karen Stith Weems and husband Orsom of Little Rock, Ark.; son, Thomas Stith II and wife Kimberly of Sugar Land; brother, Allen B. Stith; three sisters, Cornelia S. Mc- Curdy and husband Robert, Carrie S. Best and Dollie S. Paul, all of Portsmouth; two sisters-in-law, Soundrey Ann Jacobs Guidry and husband Alfred of Richmond, Texas, and Amelia Ethridge Stith of San Diego, Calif.; brother-in-law, George Eason Sr. and wife Jean of Portsmouth; aunt, Geneva T. Archer and husband George of Philadelphia; uncle, Vernon T. Trant and wife Irene of Portsmouth; five grandchildren, Tito Hunt and Brandon Thomas of Richmond, Texas, Jordon Weems and Lauren Weems of Little Rock, Ark., and Thomas Maxwell Stith III of Sugar Land; early childhood friend, Richard E. Ballard and wife Ruby of Suffolk; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in First Lutheran Church, 600 King St., Portsmouth. Family and friends will assemble at the home of Robert L. McCurdys, 3309 Armistead Drive, Portsmouth, at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Lutheran Church, 600 King St., Portsmouth. Rogers Funeral Home submitted information.