Willie E.Thomas Sr.

Willie E. Thomas, Sr. was born in Linden, Alabama on March 25, 1937, to Alice Lawson Thomas and Ivory Dexter Thomas II. He was the middle child, with an older brother Joseph Lawson and a younger sister Hattie Mae Langdon. Their father owned the Dairy Farm where they worked and helped the business to grow.

Willie excelled in his academic studies and graduated from Westfield High School, then received a scholarship to University of Alabama. He also attended the Wayne State University School of Cultural Arts (Detroit, Michigan).

After meeting his wife, Carrie, in Birmingham, Alabama, they migrated with their two children to Michigan. He worked for the automotive industry and then spent over 33 years at the United States Postal Service, where he retired from. He served honorably in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was also active in the community where he served as mentor to friends, neighbors, and family. He loved his family, his grandkids, and barbecuing. Family members, neighbors, and friends sought him out when he barbecued "fall off the bone meats".

Willie made his transition on February 9, 2026, at the Four Seasons Rehabilitation Center in Westland, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his father, Ivory Dexter Thomas II, and his mom, Alice Lawson Thomas, brother Joseph (Louise) Lawson, sister Victoria (Roosevelt) Mitchell, sister Hattie Mae Landon, sister Louisa (Willie) Dean, cousins, Lester Robinson, Ozoria Dean and Philip Mitchell.

He leaves behind his loving wife of 65 years, Carrie, his son Will Jr. (Sherri); his daughter Wendy; granddaughters Octavia and Shalom; great granddaughters Jadyn and Kendallyn; great grandson (Dakota); and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.