Emma Leigh Page Thomas

THOMAS HIGH POINT ~ Emma Leigh Page Thomas Feb. 10, 1995 ~ Aug. 25, 2011 Emma Leigh Page Thomas, 16, of High Point, NC died unexpectedly on Thursday, August 25, 2011. She leaves behind her beloved family and a multitude of friends of all ages who will forever cherish her memory. She was born February 10, 1995 in High Point, the daughter of Leslie Page Gill and Stuart Candler Thomas. She was the granddaughter of Dr. and Mrs. Arnold (Janice) Gill and Mr. and Mrs. John (Tommie) Thomas Jr. Emma's legacy is her compassion for others and her short, brilliant life teaches that loving others before yourself changes lives and enriches the world. Everyone who knew Emma will always remember her as the girl who made them feel special, as though they were the most important friend she had. Her selfless nature always looked to serve others before herself and particularly championed those who appeared most needy. She loved people without regard for anything other than their heart. Emma was creative, funny, ambitious and certainly fearless - always bringing joy and happiness to everyone she met. Athletically, she found her passion for running early in life, and gave it her all, as she did everything. Her career dreams were as wide as the sky, but in one fashion or another, all involved service to others. Wherever she went, she was the spark that lit up a room and everyone's time was more meaningful because she was there. While her earthly time has passed, this giving spirit lives through her organ donations. She attended Westchester Country Day School in High Point from kindergarten through the ninth grade. While attending Westchester Country Day School, Emma was the recipient of the Coach's Award for Cross Country 2008, Middle School Basketball Wildcat Award 2009, Coach's Award for Varsity Track 2010, the Schwartzmanship 2009 and the Scott Patterson Award in 2009 which recognizes strong character, integrity, and extraordinary care and concern for others. Emma was currently studying at The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York. As a rising junior, she won several scholastic awards and was to be the proctor this year at Ford Dormitory as well as the captain of this year's cross country team. She was preceded in death by her father, who died Aug. 23, 2011. Surviving are her mothers, Leslie Page Gill and Donna Lewis of High Point and Andrea Thomas of Winston-Salem; her brother and best friend, Scout Thomas; sisters Bibi and Annie; brother Jack; maternal grandmother, Janice, and her husband, Fred Isenhower; paternal grandfather, John W. Thomas Jr., and his wife, Judy; uncle and aunt, Thold and RuthEllen Gill; uncle and aunt, Randy and Ina Gill; uncle and aunt, John, III and Beth; uncle and aunt, Bruce and Cindy; uncle and aunt, Chris and Teresa and uncle Mat along with numerous beloved cousins and dear friends. A Memorial Service celebrating her brief but brilliant life will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1225 Chestnut Drive, High Point. Cumby Family Funeral Service, High Point, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made on Emmas memorial page at www.cumby funeral.com. The family wishes to thank the trauma team of the North Tower, 5th Floor at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. Emma kept on giving right until the very end and because she was an organ donor, others will now live through her many gifts. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oak Hill Elementary School, High Point, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina or Carolina Donor Services. Emma's laughing brown eyes will never be forgotten. As Edna St. Vincent Millay said so well in a poem long ago, "More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses of the world."