Elnita Hendley Thomas, 91, of Tifton passed away Thursday, March 5, 2020, at her residence. Her funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, March 8, 2020, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. John Sikes Gibbs, Jr. officiating. Mrs. Thomas will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday, March 7, 2020, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Bo DeLoach, Joey Young, Chris Whitley, Richard Roig, Alton Benefield, Cory Dennis, Trae Thomas and Jeb DeLoach will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Shane Benefield, Adam Benefield, Shannon Davis, Chuck Roig, Caleb Thomas, Walter Layne and Ricky Handley.
Born September 18, 1928 in Berrien County, Mrs. Thomas was the daughter of the late Willie Hendley and Lottie Roberts Hendley. She was also preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Isaac M. Thomas, Sr.; one daughter, Delaine Whitley; four brothers, Jesse Willard Hendley, Jack Dempsey Hendley, Johnnie Hendley and Beuman Hendley; and four sisters, Elzie Hendley Justiss, Eula Mae Hendley Evans and Lela Hendley Tchiniski. She was a homemaker and a loving mother and grandmother.
Mrs. Thomas is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, Buddy and Connie DeLoach and Charles and Faye Benefield, all of Tifton, Isaac Jr. and Barbara Thomas of Ocilla and Trannon and Keelie Thomas of Dacula; three daughters and sons-in-law, Ferrell and James Graham and Joan and Tommy Harrison, all of Monticello, Florida and Kathy and Mark Dennis of Forsyth; three sisters, Doris Novella Hendley and Hilda Jean Hendley Faulkner, both of Nashville and Carolyn Hendley Barber of Hahira; 23 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Hospice Care Options, 200 South Cherry Street, Ocilla, GA 31774.