Rev. Dr. Latta R. Thomas

1927 - 2021

Rev. Dr. Latta R. Thomas
October 12, 1927 - December 10, 2021
Columbia, South Carolina - Funeral services Celebrating the Life and Work of Reverend Dr. Latta Roosevelt Thomas will be lived streamed at www.leevy.com on Thursday, December 16, 2021 beginning at 10 a.m. Public viewing will be held Wednesday from 1 until 4:30 p.m. at the Leevy's Funeral Home, Taylor Street Chapel. Reverend Thomas was born October 12, 1927 in Union County. He graduated from Sims High School in Union, South Carolina in 1947. In the fall of that year, he entered Friendship Junior College, from which he graduated Salutatorian of the Class of 1949. He continued his education at Benedict College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree and graduated Salutatorian of the Class of 1951.
After graduation from Benedict College, Latta attended Colgate Rochester Divinity School in Rochester, New York, from which he received the Bachelor of Divinity degree. He received the Master of Sacred Theology degree from Andover Newton Theological Seminary, Newton Center, Massachusetts in 1966 and the Doctor of Ministry degree from the same institution in 1973. Dr. Thomas has had a long Career as a pastor, beginning with his pastorate of Monumental Baptist Church, Elmira, New York from 1952 to 1963. Dr. Thomas retired from Second Calvary Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina in 1996, a congregation which he served for twenty-two years.
As a scholar, Dr. Thomas is well-known for his work at Benedict College, where he held various positions, ranging from Assistant Professor of Religion to Chair of the Division of Humanities. He served as Head of the Religion and Philosophy Study Area from 1974-1992. He retired as Professor of Religion in January 1995. At Benedict College, Dr. Thomas also served as College Minister for 20 years, from 1965 to 1985.
In addition to being a pastor, and an author, Dr. Thomas has also served with great distinction as a civic leader. He was Chairman of the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council from 1982 to 1983; he has been a member of the local board of the Salvation Army; the NAACP; the Mayor's Fighting Back Committee Against Substance Abuse; South Carolina Democratic Campaign Committee; and served as chair of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Committee.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Dr. Latta R. Thomas Endowed Scholarship at www.benedict.edu/give.
Dr. Latta R. Thomas is survived by his son, LCDR Latta R. Thomas, Jr. USN Chaplain (Retired). He was married for fifty-eight years to Mrs. Bessie L. Thomas (deceased), formerly of Gastonia, North Carolina. To this union were born two sons: Latta R. Thomas, Jr., and Ronald Jerome Thomas deceased. Three grandsons, Latta Ill, Christian and Chaddick. Two great-grandsons, Sebastian and Solomon.