Evalina "Nellie" Lester Thomas

Mrs. Evalina "Nellie" Lester Thomas, 74, of 402 North Franklin Road, Mount Airy, passed away Monday morning, May 17, 2010, at Northern Hospital of Surry County. Mrs. Thomas was born July 22, 1935, in McDowell County, WV, daughter of the late John Lewis and Chloe Agnes Blankenship Lester. She retired from Spencer's Inc. after 35 years of service and was a member of New Venture Baptist Church. She is survived by three daughters and a son-in-law, Patsy Ann and Frank Tate of Lambsburg, VA, and Mary Lou Williamson and her fiancé, Mike Marsh, and Juanita Thomas, all of Mount Airy; five sons and two daughters-in-law, the Rev. Larry Edward and Deborah Thomas, Randy Lee Thomas, Robert Darnell Thomas and his fiancée, Lori Hazelwood, and Dennis Wayne Thomas, all of Mount Airy, and Arnold Eugene and Patricia Thomas of Greensboro; fourteen grandchildren, Matthew Hodges, Jason Hodges, Crystal Bailey, Brandy Bailey, Jason Thomas, Ben Thomas, Amy Andrews, Robert Thomas, Jr., Shasta Thomas, Melissa Boone, Brian Thomas, Candace Ward, Jeremy Williamson, and David Thomas; nineteen great-grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law, Beulah and Frank Yost of Kernersville; and three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Elwood and Deanne Lester of Charlottesville, VA, Buddy and Eileen Lester of Roanoke, VA, and Halsey Lester of Independence, VA. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Thomas was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Lee Thomas; and two brothers, Paul Lester and Claude Lester. The funeral service will be held Thursday, May 20, 2010, at 2:00 PM at Faith Baptist Church, with the Rev. Larry Edward Thomas and the Rev. Randy Edwards officiating. Burial will follow at Skyline Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy, where her body will remain until carried to the church to lie-in-state 30 minutes prior to the funeral service. Flowers will be accepted, or memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.