June 2, 1954 – Jan. 9, 2014

NATCHEZ — Services for Mary Kathryn Simonton Thomas, 59, of Natchez, who died Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014, at Natchez Community Hospital, will be at 2 p.m. today at First Baptist Church in Natchez with the Rev. Doug Broome officiating.

Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time today at the church.

Mrs. Thomas was born June 2, 1954, in Natchez, the daughter of Max and I. Jean S. Simonton.

Her strong Christian faith and will to live brought her through the years of illness following her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2001.

Mrs. Thomas studied to receive a degree in secretarial science from Southwest Community College and was later employed for several years at Benneke Corporation in Columbus before her employment at Natchez Community Hospital.

Prior to her illness she was a devout member of First Baptist Church where she sang in the choir, rang hand bells with the hand bell choir, taught Sunday school and Bible school.

After her illness, she began a card ministry for the church, sending cards to many different denominations and locations. These Biblically-based cards carried hope, joy, and peace to a myriad of people and she often received responses and “thank you” notes for her thoughtful creations.

Before her illness required her retirement, she chaired a multiple sclerosis support group, which met monthly at the hospital.

Her love for children led her to teach kindergarten children at Trinity Episcopal Day School for several seasons. She loved her family and church and that love brought her the greatest joy and special care for everyone to whom she wrote beautiful poetry and letters of encouragement.

Mrs. Thomas was preceded in death by an infant daughter; and father-in-law, Billy Thomas.

Survivors include her husband, Richard Thomas; her parents; one daughter, Shelley S. Rogers; one son, Chad Thomas; three brothers, Don Jr., of Lorman, Joe, of Orlando, and Jim Brady and wife, Martha, of Florence; mother-in-law, Bessie Thomas; two brothers-in-law, Dale Thomas and Lee Thomas and wife, Kim; sister-in-law, Cyndy Wynn and husband, Rodney; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Ricky Long, Dale McDonald, Luke Thomas, Matthew Simonton, Mark Simonton, Taylor Simonton, Mike Harrigill and Hank Brumfield.

Honorary pallbearer will be Brynson Rogers.

Memorials may be sent to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation online or to 6520 N. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309-2103.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.