Michael Eli Thomas

Michael Eli Thomas, 73, of Flint, Michigan, reached "sudden glory" on Monday, November 29, at 3:37 pm when he passed from this side of eternity to the other. He was a faithful husband of nearly 50 years, a devoted father & grandfather, a loyal friend, a compassionate & effective planning and elder law attorney, and most importantly, a committed Christ-follower.

Michael was born in Indiana on August 9, 1948, and his family moved to Flint when he was a few weeks old. He graduated from General Motors Institute in 1971. He earned his Juris Doctor from Detroit College of Law in 1975, began his Flint law practice in 1976, and earned his Master’s in Taxation from Walsh College in 1989. He has served on several boards of charitable institutions including the Baptist Children’s Home & Family Ministries of Valparaiso, Indiana; the Michigan Association of Christian Schools; the Michigan Association of Senior Health; and Baptist Bible College of Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania.

He served for over four decades as a deacon and an adult Bible teacher at South Baptist Church in Flint, and then at Mayfair Bible Church in Flushing. He was active in the Carman-Ainsworth school district, where his children attended. He coached boys soccer for 9 years, helped found the Flint Steelers Soccer Club, and taught an afterschool Bible study at Carman-Ainsworth High School. He devoted his legal practice to the integration of Biblical principles with legal principles, and he maintained that commitment for 45 years of practicing law.

Michael loved his wife, his family, and his time at the lake (Lake Missaukee in Lake City, MI). But most of all, he loved Jesus and told everyone — everyone — about Him. He was a truth-speaker; he saw the world as black-&-white/right-&-wrong, and if you happened to be in the "wrong," whether the issue at-hand was politics, University of Michigan football (GO BLUE), or how to grow the best lawn on the block, Mike would call you a moron and set you straight. It was both his most striking & endearing quality, and also the one that occasionally got him into some trouble.

An obnoxious act is a cry for help. Time & truth always end up in the same place. Crisis is always an opportunity for God to be glorified.

These things characterized his life and are the legacy he leaves behind.

He was preceded in death by his father Lazarus Thomas, his mother Patricia Brodnax, and his sister Deborah Thomas Atkinson.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Susan Odegard Thomas, of Flint; daughter Nikki Thomas Cullen (Jon) of Raleigh, North Carolina, with granddaughters Addie, Emmie, Josie, & Charlie Rose; and son Jack Thomas (Stephanie) of Linden, Michigan, with grandchildren Max (Maxwell Michael) & Lillie. Also surviving is his sister Pamela (Jerry) Thomas Mills of Roscommon, Michigan.

Visitation (5:00-6:45pm) & a memorial service (7pm) will take place on December 10 at Mayfair Bible Church, 5339 W. Pierson Road, Flushing.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made through Mayfair Bible Church to the Michael E. Thomas Memorial Fund. These monies will be distributed to missionaries and charitable organizations that were special to Mike. Go to mayfairbible.org/give-online and select "Michael E. Thomas Memorial Fund" in the drop-down menu.