Celebrating the Life andService

(Dr. Jeffery K

D.

Saturday, Juty 13, 2013 1:00 (PM.
Trinity Christian M ethodist (EpiscopatChurch 2930 (Jtenn H itts Drive JLugusta, Qeorgia 30906
(EtderJ. ponzettM aness, (presiding (Bishop "Kenneth Vj. Carter, (Eutogist

The 06ituary
CDr. Jeffery R Thomas was 6orn Octo6er 24, 1963 in (Daytona, Elorida, to (Rev. Dr. jw endolyn Sm ith a n d the Cate Rev. John Thomas Smith, Sr. JCe departed this Cife on Tuesday, July 9, 2013.
N e graduated summa cum Caude w ith a (Bachelor o fA rts degree in (Philosophy a n d Religionfrom (Paine College, Augusta, jeorgia. `While at Paine College, Dr. Thomas 6ecame afello w o f both the Theological(Education Vndergraduate E undand the A ndrew `W. M ellon SocialScience Research Council Dr. Thomas also receivednumerous awards, including 6eing named the V n ite d Negro College E undPre-Alumni CouncilW ale o f the Tear (2000); inducted into the A lpha Rappa M u N ational NonorSociety; namedto the N ational's Dean List; 6ecame a B illandM alinda (Jates M illennium Eellow; receivedthe Paine College D istinguished Recognition A w a rd and became a B la c f College E und Ambassador, which allow ed him to travel extensively across the V n ite d States as a conference speaker a n d advocatefo r higher education.
In 2001, Dr. Thomas receiveda PresidentialScholarship to atten d the Claremont Schoolo fTheology in Claremont, California where he entered a M aster o f D ivinity Degree Program. During graduation ceremonies, he was honored w ith the Church o f the (JoodShepherd Preaching A w a rd and the Edw in and Erances `W hitman PastoralCareAward. A fte r he received the M aster o f D ivinity Degree, Dr. Thomas became a Theology D octoral Eellow and receivedanother PresidentialScholarship from Claremont School o f Theology to pursue a Ph.D. He then earned a M aster o fA rts degree and completed a two-year clinicalresidency at the ClinebellIn stitu tefo r PastoralCounseling andPsychotherapy.
In 2009, he completed a ll o f the Ph.D. requirements, including a dissertation entitled, The Liberative-Prophetic: A Socio-
TheologicalandPsychospiritualAnalysis o fS lid Row, Los Angeles. Dr. Thomas was awarded the Ph.D. in Theology and Personality w ith an emphasis in pastoralcounseling andpsychotherapy. During the graduation ceremony, he was awarded the highest academic aw ardgiven by the school: The President's A w a rd fo r Academic Excellence. In 2010, he was invited as an adjunct professor to teach a class on Social Conflict and M inistries o f Care at Claremont. N e also served as assistant Professor o f Religion at Paine College, Augusta, Georgia.
Dr. Thomas was licensedto preach the gospelin 1995. N e was ordainedin 2002 a n d became an elder in 2006 in the Christian M ethodist Episcopal Church. N e has served in various capacities at numerous churches, including the Raise Bridge CM E Church in `Waynesboro, (jeorgia; `W estwood V n ite d M ethodist Church a n d the Nolman V n ite d M ethodist Church, Los Angeles, California. N e also served as the Senior Pastor o f the CentralCity Community Church in S lid Row, Los Angeles, the epicenter o f Am erica's largest homeless population. Ne and the church were fea tu red on the nationally-syndicated television show TheAmerican Bible Society Presents. N is w orfcan also be seen in S lid Row: jo d , by Sam Slavicfa Binding j o d in the City o fAngels, produced by the Institute fo r Signifying Scriptures at Claremont graduate School Vniversity; the documentary, Lost Angels, produced by Big Time Productions and the CBS Television show The B olda n d the Beautiful. N is ministry was alsofea tu red in the Los Angeles Sentinel, The Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles D ow ntow n News. A t the time o f his death, he was auditioningfo r the role to portray Dr. Ring in afea tu red film , entitled, Biography o f Dr. M artin Luther Ring,Jr., produced by P aul (jreengrass.
Clearly, Dr. Thomas'passion was to assist and empower underservedandm arginalizedindividuals andfam ilies in becoming self-sufficient and emotionally, psychologically and spiritually whole. (While serving Trinity, he led the congregation in planting a time capsule.
N e is survived by his mother, Dr. Gwendolyn Sm ith o fAugusta, Cjeorgia; fiv e brothers, M arfaSmith, Nolan (Rhonda) Smith, Stanley (Anna) Smith, A tlanta, jeorgia a n d C liffordSm ith a n d John Smith, Augusta, jeorgia; one m aternalaunt, Delores Davis andfam ily, Daytona Beach, Elorida; a devotedfriend, A ttorney Teresa Nillary, Los Angeles, California, and a host o f nieces, nephews and loving and dedicatedfriends.

The Order o fService
<Presiding, ReverendJ. RonzellManess, (presiding (Elder Augusta-Sparta (District C(M.E. Church
(Processional
(Hymn............................................................................................ ........................................................ "(BlessedAssurance"- # 2 7

Affirmation o f (Faith

(Prayer............................................................................................................................................. (Rev. (Dr. Willie Wiley, (Pastor iMt. AhdredC2M.E. Church

Scriptures

O ld Testament - Psalm 90: 1-6...
gloria (Patri Slew Testament - John 11:21-27

.... (Rev. P)r. Timothy R, green, Pastor Jenkins (MemorialC-(M.E. Church
................... (Rev. Sarah Cooper, Pastor (Miles (MemorialC.(M.E. Church

Selection..................................................................... P o e m ........................................................................... Selection.....................................................................

.............................................V n ity Choir Trinity C-IM.E. Church
................................ (Ms. Jackie Payton (Neeley grove C-(M. (E. Church
.............................................V n ity Choir Trinity C-(M.E. Church

(Reflections

iMinisterial Colleague...................
Paine College................................. 1Friend.......................................... Pamily

(Rev. P)r. P aulW . gardner, Sr., Pastor Williams (Memorial C-(M-E. Church
........(Dr. george C- Bradley, President ..........................(Mr. (Roscoe Brown, I I

A c k n o w le d g e m e n ts.................................................... Solo............................................................................. <Eulogy...................................... .................................

.................................... (Mr. BernardRp6erson Trinity C-(M.(E. Church
..................................... (Mrs. Audrey Thomas Trinity C-(M.E. Church
.................... Bishop %enneth Wayne Carter Presiding Prelate - Sixth (Episcopal(District
Christian (Methodist Episcopal Church

(Recessional

Interment

(Mount Olive (Memorial gardens

A ctive C 'a[[6earers
A ugusta-Spartv (D istrict M in isters

Honorary) (pa[[6earers
Trinity a n d Vanderhorst Trustees

PCower(Bearers
A ugusta-Sparta (District M in isters' Spouses

H onorary

P Cow<

Trinity a n d Vanderhorst M issionary Societies

W e express our warm an d sincere gratitude to aCCwho have shown acts o f hindness in the loss o f our Covedone. Yourprayers, caCCs, cards, gifts, an d words o f comfort wiCCaCways 6e remem6ered May Cjod 6Cess each o f you. - The PamiCy
W. H. Mays M ortuary
"P ro fessio n a l Service A F am ily T radition S in ce 1922" 1221 Jam es Brown Boulevard Augusta, Georgia 30901 (706) 722-6401
DES1GN/PRINTING BY: AUGUSTA BLUEPRINT * AUGUSTA, GEORGIA * (7 0 6 ) 722-6488
WWW.AUGUSTAFUNERALNOTICES.COM