Mrs. Vera Orr Thomas

Mrs. Vera O. Thomas, 87, had her transition on Thursday, June 26, 2014 at her residence under the professional care of Hospice Savannah.


Funeral services for Mrs. Vera Louise Orr Thomas will be held 10:00AM, Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at Resurrection Of Our Lord Catholic Church, 112 Fell St., Father Robert Chaney, Pastor.

Interment: Catholic Cemetery.

OBITUARY:
Vera Louise Orr Thomas passed away at home on Thursday June 26, 2014 after a long illness. She was born December 29, 1926 - the second child of the late Alphonso Orr, Sr. and Geneva Marks Orr. Her brothers, and sister, were Dr. Alphonso Orr, Jr.; Jean Orr Shorter (deceased), and Dr. Earle Lawton Orr, Sr., M.D. (deceased). She attended Florence Elementary School, and Beach-Cuyler High School in Savannah. In 1949, Vera received her baccalaureate degree from Georgia State College (now Savannah State University), and an M.A. degree from New York University. Vera married Malcolm Gilbert Thomas, Sr., a native of Baxley, Georgia, on August 20, 1949 at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Father Bartholomew Kohane officiating. To this union - three sons were born - Malcolm, Jr., Michael, and Mark.

Her professional educational career began as an English teacher in Glenville, Georgia immediately after college graduation. After her marriage to Malcolm Thomas, Sr., she taught high school English and Social Studies in Reidsville, Georgia. In 1950, she returned to Savannah and taught at several schools including DeRenne Elementary School, Hubert Middle School, and Sol C. Johnson High School before retiring from L. S. Shuman Middle School in 1983.

Family was the joy of Vera's life as she enjoyed her sons, their wives, and her grandchildren. She was very devoted to her grandchildren - Monique, Malcolm III (Kameisha, M.D.); Michael, Jr., (Marlana); Sergeant Lateef (Joanna), and Inayah. She found great delight in organizing elaborate birthday parties for her grandchildren. She also took them on amazing vacations throughout the United States from Disney World to Hawaii. She continued this devotion and loving care with her great granddaughters - Madelyn, Giovanna, Kennedy, and Luna.

She was a great friend to many and included them lovingly in family oriented bar-b-ques, low country boils, and theme parties. Vera was an ardent literary scholar who appreciated poetry and Shakespeare. She would often discuss issues with other friends who appreciated literary and poetic analysis, and often recited her favorite poems from memory.

She leaves to cherish in her precious memory- Malcolm, Sr. her loving husband of 64 years, her sons - Malcolm, Jr. (Valerie) of Savannah; Michael, Sr. (Aretta) of Texas; Mark of Savannah, her brother Dr. Alphonso Orr White Plains New York, her sister-in-laws Dorothy Orr of White Plains New York and Natividad of Bluffton, SC and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

These words from Tennyson's Ulysses exemplify the essence of a life of achievements and joy - ""... Yet all experience is an arch wherethro' - Gleams that untravell'd world whose margin fades forever and forever when I move... ""



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