Barbara Thomas Obituary

Barbara Ann Hunter Thomas, 85, beloved mother, grandmother, and dedicated educator, passed away on Monday, April 7, 2025 at Arden Courts in Tampa, Florida after a lengthy illness.
Barbara was born on October 9, 1939 and was raised in the community she loved so dearly, Lake City, Florida. Her early childhood was spent on a turpentine camp in the rural North Florida woods near Taylor where as an avid reader she would usually be found perched in the branches of a tree with a book in hand. At the age of ten her family moved to Lake City where she developed a lifelong passion for education. She graduated from Columbia High School with the class of 1957 then received her education degree from Stetson University. She taught elementary school in Orlando and Jacksonville Beach. After marrying Bones Thomas in 1964, she taught in Palm Beach County a couple of years before returning home continuing her career and establishing her family in Lake City. She received her Masters in Education degree from Western Carolina University and her Specialist Degree from Florida State University. A devoted teacher, resource teacher and Assistant Principal for many years at Summers Elementary and Director of Elementary Education for Columbia County, she touched the lives of countless students throughout her distinguished 43 year career. Her professional accomplishments extended far beyond the classroom earning her many awards and accolades for her dedication and leadership.
Outside of her professional accomplishments, Barbara was driven to serve others. Whether organizing class reunions, serving in Altrusa, creating and maintaining the church library or in retirement driving people daily to their doctor appointments in Jacksonville and Gainesville, she found joy in helping others. She served in many capacities over the span of 55 years at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society (educator organization) and Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity (Key Woman). Barbara was also an ardent supporter of Florida State University, where she and Bones were dedicated Seminole fans. Her passion for the Seminoles was surpassed only by her unwavering faith in God and the love for her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents William Raiford and Gertrude Hendrix Hunter, her husband James "Bones" Martin Thomas, her baby brother, her sister Judith Hunter Salyers and brother William Willie Ray Hunter, Jr. Barbara is survived by her daughter Deborah Thomas (Paul) Sickmon of Tampa, FL, and her grandchildren Knox Sickmon of Tampa, FL and Savanah Lee Sickmon of North Hollywood, CA. She also is survived by her niece Aimee (Ronnie) Cadle, Lake City, FL and nephews John Brethour, Jr., Easton, PA and Milo Scott (Gina) Thomas, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.
The family will receive friends for visitation on Thursday, April 10th from 5-7pm at Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home. Per her wishes, a graveside service will be held on Friday, April 11th at 11:00am at Memorial Cemetery. Barbara loves fresh flowers or would be honored to have donations made in her memory to either ALTRUSA Int'l of Lake City, PO Box 3151, Lake City, FL 32056; the Lake City Seminole Club for the Bones Thomas scholarship PO Box 3694, Lake City, FL 32056 or the Columbia County Public Library for the purchase of books.
Barbara's memory will live on through her loving family and the many lives she inspired and touched throughout her remarkable career. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
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