by Yolanda Y. Harris,
a niece of Minnie Thomas
Whether she was praying with them, coaching them through a bible study, or cooking them dinner, Evangelist Minnie Thomas had a special way of bonding with young ladies and girls.
“She was God-sent in my life,” said Patricia Mason, one of Minnie’s spiritual daughters. Patricia said Minnie taught her about marriage and parenting and to trust God, no matter what. “She had crazy faith. She taught me how to have crazy faith.”
Like Patricia, many who have been mentored by Minnie through the years will miss her steadfast, unwavering faith in God, her on-time words of encouragement and her godly counsel. Minnie Thomas died at age 65 of congestive heart failure while hospitalized in Richmond, Va. on March 8, 2014. A descendant of the Shy family line, Minnie is survived by nine children, 13 grandchildren and four siblings.
Here's more about Minnie's life:
Remembering Evangelist Minnie Thomas:
A Spiritual Mentor, Encourager to Young Women, Girls
Her nurturing of youth
As part of her ministry work, Minnie also served as a therapeutic foster mother during a six-year period to more than 20 children of diverse races. In 2009, Minnie adopted one of her foster children, Whitney, when she was nine. And in 2011, she adopted Tomasita Rubio when she was 16. Both girls are now under the care of Minnie’s youngest daughter Kristi Walker, in Glenn Ellen, Va.
Tomasita Rubio, age 19, said that before she had come under Minnie’s care, she had lived with about 40 different foster parents.
“She was like a guardian angel, a friend and a mother to me,” said Tomasita, about Minnie. “I wouldn’t be here right now, if it wasn’t for her.” Tomasita also said Minnie helped her realize her strengths. “Before I came to her, I didn’t have goals. I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up….She said ‘you have a gift with kids and you need to use it.’ ”
Kristi said she wants people to remember her mother’s love for people and her desire for everyone to know about God. She also said she admired her mother’s unwavering faith. “Even when it came to my father’s passing…she kept her faith in God.” “She preached a lot about always trusting God, and I could see that she actually did that.”
Her journey to new territories
Minnie was married to Levi Thomas for 32 years until his death in 2002. During his lifetime, Levi and Minnie blossomed into a family of seven children. Levi worked as a senior project engineer, while Minnie, mostly a stay-at-home mom, took care of the household. Levi’s career advances over the years took Minnie and their family to several new territories as they transitioned from different locations in the Midwest to the East Coast.
Their family moved from Chicago to Danville, Ill., then Kenosha, Wis., followed by Syracuse, N.Y. and finally to Chester, Va. Their big, beautiful homes became vacation spots for extended family and friends alike. About a year after Levi died, Minnie relocated by herself to Danville, Va., to be closer to her youngest child David, who was attending Averett University.
In 2004, Minnie moved again by herself to Eden, N.C., to establish a brand new ministry targeting women and children.
Her work in ministry
Long before her ministry in North Carolina got underway, Minnie's ministry began with her family. She used to have weekly Bible studies with her husband and children.
Those bible study sessions also extended to her children's friends. Minnie’s oldest child Kandise Lucas recalls how her college girlfriends who came home with her to Syracuse, N.Y. on weekends would participate in Minnie’s family bible study sessions. “They knew that was part of the deal when they came to my house,” Kandise said.
And when Minnie visited her mother and siblings in Chicago, she often held spiritual crusades for her family.
Minnie was licensed as a missionary in the Church of God in Christ. But she did not have an allegiance to any particular religious denomination. “She could never fit into a denomination. She was bigger than a denomination. She was truly a ministry,” Kandise said.
After moving by herself to Eden, N.C in 2004, Minnie founded New Beginnings International Ministries, a home-based ministry that catered to the needs of women and children.
Part of the New Beginnings ministry involved having church service in her home on Sundays with about 10 teen girls from Abundant Living Group Home, a group home in Eden for emotionally disturbed children. After each service, she cooked them dinner and fellowshipped with them.
Her family
Minnie Thomas was born in Itta Bena, Miss. to Mattie and Jack Carlton on June 4, 1948. Both of her parents preceded her in death. Her husband Levi Thomas died in 2002.
Minnie is survided by nine children, two of which are adopted, and 13 grandchildren.
Her children are: Kandise (Charles) Lucas, Kara Thomas, Levi II (Shanta) Thomas, Michael (Marquisha) Thomas, Russell (Wendy) Thomas, Kristi (Jimmy. Jr.) Walker, David (Holly) Thomas, Thomasita Rubio and Whitney. Her 13 grandchildren are: Johlie, Trey, Illysia, Jayden, Liam, Levi, Armorel, Elijah, Ezra, Aline, Gage, Jimmie III and Nahla. Her siblings are Mary Johnston, Evelyn Harris, Dorothy Caffey and Vernon Carlton. Two siblings, Willie D. Carltonand Mattie Mae Self, preceded her in death.
“She preached a lot about always trusting God, and I could see that she actually did that.”
--Kristi Walker, Minnie Thomas' youngest daughter