Ella Mae Smith Thomas

Ella Mae Smith Thomas, 87, of Florence, SC, passed away on Monday, May 22, 2017. Mrs. Thomas was born in Effingham, SC, a daughter of the late Allene Smith and Carl Smith. She was a member of First Free Will Baptist Church and the American Legion. She worked in the school cafeteria for Florence District One and Maranatha Christian School. Mrs. Thomas was a loving mother, grandmother and friend. Surviving are her son, Dick (Vanessa) Thomas of New Bern, NC; daughter, Karen T. (Jim) Kelly of Florence; grandchildren, Jimmy (Christine) Thomas, Russell Thomas, Kirk Thomas, Jeremy Thomas, Max Thomas, Abigail (Miles) Thomas Sparks, Anna (Timmy) Conner, David (Ginny) Bazen and John Bazen; great-grandchildren, Tyler Thomas, Chandler Thomas, Brandon Thomas, Carolyn Conner, James Dallas Conner, Anna Kate Bazen and Ella Bazen; her brother, Bobby (Marsha) McKay of Dallas, TX; and numerous nieces, nephews and special friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Richard Thomas, Sr.; her son, Billy Thomas and two sisters, Bernice Bazen and Louise McKay. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 on Saturday, May 27, 2017, at First Free Will Baptist Church, 2624 West Palmetto Street, Florence, SC.Burial will follow at Thomas Cemetery in Olanta directed by Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home. Family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Free Will Baptist Church Building Fund, 2624 W. Palmetto Street, Florence, SC29501. Please sign the tribute wall for Mrs. Thomas at the obituary section of www.stoudenmiredowling.com.