General William Thomas
November 15, 1932 ~ July 16, 2025
Deacon General William Thomas was born in Hazen, Arkansas, the third of eight children born to Gertrude and William Thomas. At a young age, he moved to New York City, where he attended Public School 35 and Public School 90. He later graduated from Bronx Vocational High School, where he was honored with the prestigious “Ken Rosenthal” Award in Mathematics—granted annually to the student with the highest GPA over four years.
William confessed his faith in Christ early in life and was baptized at Union Baptist Church in Manhattan.
On May 5, 1956, he married his high school sweetheart, Casula Debbie Hamlet. Their union was blessed with two children: Tanya Deann and Theodore William. His legacy of love, faith, and strength lives on through his beloved grandson, Theodore William.
In October 1955, William enlisted in the United States Air Force. Over the course of 27 years, he served honorably and retired in 1982 with the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. His military assignments took him overseas to Germany, England, Alaska, and Vietnam.
During his overseas deployments, his wife Casula became the “Head-of-Household,” supporting the family with grace and strength while pursuing her own civil servant career. In 1982, her job transferred her to Randolph Air Force Base in Texas, and the family relocated to San Antonio. William began working at Southwest Research Institute as a technician in the Automotive Engine Oils Research Test Division. After 18 months, he transitioned into Civil Service with the Department of Defense (DOD) at Randolph Air Force Base, serving as a Quality Assurance Evaluator for vehicle defense.
In 1988, William received the Randolph AFB “Civilian Employee of the Year” award. In the Southwest regional competition that same year, he was honored as the runner-up.
He held key positions throughout his civil service career, including Vendor Automotive Parts Purchase Manager and Financial Manager for Vehicle Repair Contracts. He managed contracts for over 600 base vehicles, overseeing a budget of more than $600,000 annually.
William concluded 41 years of government service with his retirement in June 1998. Among his career highlights was earning the Civilian Employee of the Year distinction and achieving regional recognition for his excellence.
In April 1996, William joined Mount Zion First Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Pastor Claude W. Black, Jr., just one month before the passing of his wife, Casula.
In 1998, he began serving faithfully in the Transportation Ministry. In 2001, then-pastor Rev. Kenneth A. Allen selected him as a candidate for deaconship. In 2002, he was ordained a Deacon alongside Deacon Alfred Alderson, Deacon James Keown, and Deacon Lorenzo Taylor. That same year, he was appointed Supervisor of Mission #12.
In November 2004, William married Sister Jean Clayborne/Thomas. He wholeheartedly embraced his role as a stepfather to Karen, Olan Burt, Carol (married to Alfred Porter), Kimberly, and Kellie (married to Troy Maxwell), whom he loved as his own.
In 2006, he was elected to the Trustee Board. In 2009, he became Secretary of the Deacon Board. A faithful servant, he regularly attended Sunday School, Bible Study, and prayer meetings, always seeking to support Mt. Zion in any capacity. His deep love for the church and his commitment to service never wavered.
William also valued education. He earned an Associate Degree in Business Management from St. Philip’s College and continued his studies at Texas State University (formerly Southwest Texas College), majoring in Business Management.
Deacon General William Thomas was a man of quiet strength, deep conviction, and unwavering devotion—to his family, his church, his community, and his country. His legacy is marked by faith, integrity, and service, and he will be deeply missed by all who had the honor of knowing him.
DEACON THOMAS LEAVES TO CHERISH HIS MEMORY, HIS LOVING, DEVOTED AND CARING WIFE, JEAN CLAYBORNE THOMAS. HIS DEVOTED DAUGHTER, TANYA ROBINSON, LOVING SON, THEODORE THOMAS AND HIS BELOVED GRANDSON, THEODORE WILLIAM THOMAS. HIS STEP CHILDREN, KAREN, OLAN BURT, CAROL(ALFRED), KIMBERLY, KELLIE (TROY), WHOM HE LOVED AS HIS OWN. HIS SISTERS, RUTH RICHARDSON, ANN THOMAS AND ODESSA WILLIAMSON OF NEW YORK. ALSO A HOST OF COUSINS, NIECES AND NEPHEWS.
Services
Cemetery: Tuesday, August 5, 2025 2:30 pm
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery
1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd.
San Antonio, TX
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To the family of Deacon General William Thomas I offer my sincere condolences in his passing. My prayers are with you during this time of sadness. Deacon Thomas was a good man. A man of character. A practicing Christian. Always pleasant and positive. I never heard him speak an unkind word about anybody or anything. His honesty was another one of his strong suits. His dedication to Mt Zion was unparalleled. As Chairman of the Trustee Board I had the pleasure of working with him on church affairs. His knowledge about many things was amazing. I was blessed to have known him. He will be truly missed.