Dr. Ronald Thomas

Published 12:00 am Friday, July 11, 2008

NATCHEZ – Services for Dr. Ronald D. Thomas, Ph.D., of Tallahassee, Fla., formerly of Natchez, who died Sunday, July 6, 2008, at his residence, in Tallahassee, will be at 2 p.m. today at St. Paul Baptist Church in Washington.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time today at the church.
Dr. Thomas was born Oct. 2, 1965, in Natchez, the son of David and Ella Thomas. He was a professor of environmental toxicology at Florida A&M University, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Basic Sciences. Prior to joining the Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy in 1996, he served as an assistant professor at Talladega College in Talladega, Ala. He earned his bachelor of science degree in biology from Tougaloo College, in Jackson, and his doctor of philosophy in environmental toxicology from the University of Alabama, Birmingham.
Dr. Thomas was a dedicated son, brother, friend, teacher and researcher. He received many honors and recognitions including Areil M. Lovelace Service Award for outstanding service at Tougaloo College, Patricia Roberts-Harris fellowship, AACR-HBCU Faculty Award in Cancer Research, sponsored by the Comprehensive Minority Biomedical Program-NCI, Researcher of the Year Award in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, and selected as a toxicology delegate to China in the People to People Ambassador Program.
Dr. Thomas contributed to the advancement of the health, research, and community through membership in American College of Toxicology, American Association for Cancer Research, Minorities in Cancer Research, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Associate member of the American Museum of Natural History, among numerous others. He contributed moreover through training of undergraduate and graduate students, cutting-edge cancer prevention research, presentations and publications.
The most rewarding contribution and service that Dr. Thomas provided was his acceptance of Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age. He was an active and involved member of Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church. He taught Bible study and Sunday school, served as trustee, was a member of the Board of Education and was one of the coordinators of vacation Bible school.
Survivors include his parents; three sisters, Gwendolyn White and husband, Rick, both of Highland Springs, Va., Cheryl Lynn Thomas of Memphis, Tenn., and Connie Thomas of Natchez; five brothers, David E. Thomas Jr. of Milwaukee, Wisc., Michael M. Bell of Natchez, Leonard R. Thomas of Lafayette, La., Kenneth E. Thomas of Jackson and Calvin Thomas and wife, Karen, both of Las Vegas, Nev.; his grandmothers, Margarette Robinson, of Natchez, and Mildred Thomas of Milwaukee, Wisc.; a number of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews; and a special nephew, Marquise Thomas.