James Franklin (Jim/Jimmy) Thomas, age 88, of Caney Springs Community died December 28, 2020 at NHC Lewisburg.

Jim was born in the Enterprise Community of Maury County to Walter Claude Thomas and Ella Mae Clifton Thomas on February 27, 1932. He attended Enterprise Elementary and graduated from Hay Long High School in 1950. He attended Freed-Hardeman University and David Lipscomb University. Jim was a gospel preacher for more than 60 years, working with congregations in Tennessee, Alabama, and Virginia. He was a member of the Smoky Mountain Church of Christ and Woodland Hills Church of Christ in recent years.

Jim was also a retired Real Estate broker and auctioneer. His hobbies were UT sports and he was an avid genealogist, serving as the family historian. He enjoyed being an usher at Neyland Stadium for 18 seasons. He helped organize youth sports and coached youth baseball and football.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers: Oswald, Hoffman, Robert and Myron Thomas and three sisters: Martha Spencer, Dorothy Ellingboe, and Juanita Prentice.

He is survived by his wife Ruby; three daughters: Martha (Jack) Whitmore of Murfreesboro, Jamie (James) Davis of Culleoka, Mary (Max) Moss of Murfreesboro and one son, Joel Thomas of Columbia. He is also survived by three step children: Calvin (Beth) Woodard of Indiana, Karla (Joel) Jobe of Rockvale, and Cindy Woodard of Murfreesboro. There are eight grandchildren: Brooke (Ben) Gross of Brentwood, Brittany Whitmore of Murfreesboro, Will (Betsy) Davis of Grand Rapids, Ryan Davis of Nashville, Elizabeth (Sterling) Wall of Boston, Tripp (Annie) Moss of Houston, Jared Moss of Murfreesboro, and Adonis Thomas of Grand Rapids, and three great grandsons: Jackson and Garrett Gross and Robin Wall. Jim is also survived by three step grandchildren: Ethan Jobe of Murfreesboro, Kendall Jobe of Rockvale, and Hannah Woodard of Indiana, two brothers in law: Roy Ellingboe and Jerry Harris; and three sisters in law: Ann Sullivan, Wanda Harris and Darlene Harris, and many nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will take place at Bethlehem Cemetery on Highway 431 in the Berlin Community on Friday, January 1, 2021 at 2PM. The family requests that those who plan on attending the service, please wear a mask. Heritage Funeral Home in Columbia is in charge of services.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Parkinson’s Association at Parkinson’s National Office, 135 Parkinson Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10305. Telephone number 1-800-223-2732.

You may share condolences with the family at the Heritage Funeral Home website: www.TnFunerals.com.