LILLIAN THOMAS

LILLIAN M. THOMAS  
Lillian M. Thomas, a third generation Washingtonian and the first African-American woman supervisor at Washington's Mail Equipment Shops, departed this life on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, at her Petworth neighborhood home. In 1943, Lillian went to work for the U.S. Postal Service and pursued a 30-year career at the historic Mail Equipment Shops in Northeast, DC. In that capacity, she fought against racial and gender discrimination, knocking down doors of prejudice and eventually being promoted to supervisor before retiring in 1973. She was married to Ashton V. Thomas, a WWII veteran and the first African-American to work at the White House Mail Room, for over 50 years, until his passing in 2004. She joined Peoples Congregational Church in 1959 and was active in the church in many capacities into her 90s. She was a life-long member of the "City Cousins", a group of dynamic women who all graduated from Dunbar or Armstrong High Schools in the 1930s and 40s. She leaves to celebrate her life, one daughter Carrol Jacqueline Sammons (Morris) three sons Wilbert Michael Berryman (Charlotte), Bradley Ashton Thomas (Terry) and Ronald Keith Thomas, a former daughter-in-law Imani Kazana, five grandchildren Gina, Nadilifu, Mahiri, Bryan and Krysten, several great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and a host of devoted friends. Services will be held on Friday, October 26, 2018, at Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ, 4704 13th St., NW, Washington, DC 20011, with viewing and visitation at 10 a.m. and homegoing celebration at 11 a.m. Interment will take place at Harmony Memorial Cemetery immediately after the service followed by a repast back at the church.