James E. Thomas Sr. departed this life on Sunday, April 9, 2017 at Franciscan St. Anthony Hospital, Michigan City, Indiana.

Funeral services will be 11am, Saturday, April 15, 2017 at First Baptist Church of Lakeland 433 Dahlia Street with Elder Woodrow Teague, officiating. Burial will follow at Swan Lake Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The visitation will be 4:00pm to 7:00pm Friday, April 14, 2017 at Coleman & Hicks Chapel.

He was born March 4, 1960 in Michigan City, Indiana to the late Ellis Thomas Sr. and Hazel Mae Jenkins-Thomas. On February 1, 2016 in Michigan City, Indiana he married Keigha Henderson.

James graduated from Rogers High School. He worked at Alpha Baking until his health began to fail. James was a member of First Baptist Church of Lakeland. He loved washing cars, barbequing, basketball and football.

James leaves to cherish his memories, his wife Keigha Thomas, Michigan City, Indiana; stepfather, Samuel Bridgers, Michigan City, Indiana; children, Sylvia (Ken) Hudson, Muncie, Indiana, LaKeisha (Elgin) Wren and Ciara Sanders both of Indianapolis, Indiana, James Thomas, Lafayette, Indiana, Timothy Rochelle, Griffith, Indiana, Jason (Stephanie) Thomas, Lafayette, Indiana, Davion Thomas California and Janae Galburth, Michigan City, Indiana; son-in-law, William Eckwood Jr., Lafayette, Indiana; one sister, Vickie Thomas-Mitchell, Sacramento, California, one brother, Ellis (Glenda) “June” Thomas Sr., Michigan City, Indiana; former wife Dawn Thomas, Michigan City, Indiana; special nephews, Corey Thomas and Ellis Thomas both of Georgia, Johnny Mitchell II, Sacramento, California; special nieces, Rachel Thomas, Indianapolis, Indiana and Brittany J. Phillips, Sacramento, California; special family, Geraldine Thomas, Prince (Jessica) Thomas, Isaac Thomas and Alexis Biggers all of Michigan City, Indiana; special friends, Wayne Davis, Elmo Long, Jessie Leeks and Frankie Anderson;  mother and father-in-law, Jeanette (Eugene) Henderson, East Chicago, Indiana; brothers-in-law, Eugene (Tyra) Anderson, Gary, Indiana, Kevin (Linda) Henderson, Merrillville, Indiana, Cornell Henderson, London, England, Kyle (Robyn) Henderson, Hammond, Indiana and Keir Henderson, Oakland, California; fifteen grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ellis Thomas Sr., and Hazel Mae (Jenkins-Thomas) Bridgers; one daughter, Jaime Eckwood; grandparents, Charles Jenkins Sr., Missouri Bell, Peggy Cunningham-Thomas and James Thomas.