Kenneth "Kenny" Oliver Thomas

Funeral services for Kenneth Oliver “Kenny” Thomas will begin at 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 27, 2020, at Toomsuba Presbyterian Church, with Reverend Lane Townsend officiating. Interment will follow at the church cemetery. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.

Mr. Kenny Thomas, age 70, of Toomsuba, passed away Wednesday, July 22, 2020, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

An electrician by trade, Mr. Thomas retired from the Georgia Pacific paper mill in Pennington, Alabama, where he had many friends who mostly appreciated him for the sausage and biscuits Mrs. Faye sent with him to share. As a brother and friend, there was nothing he wouldn’t do for you, even if to just give you lots of advice (...even if you didn’t ask for it)! As a Papaw, he taught his grandkids to drive the tractor, skin a deer, fry chicken, grow tomatoes, and make pistols and fairy wands out of electrical tape and wood scraps. As a dad, he was loving, gentle, and quick to ask you for help with something that needed to be done...and there was always work to do!

Mr. Thomas enjoyed a good Western, a long nap, a day in the woods, and a perfectly grilled steak. He would tell you a man only needs one more knife or rifle.  He thought Christmas wasn’t Christmas if there was no camouflage or fruit cake cookies under the tree.  He couldn’t understand why anyone would go anywhere without a pocketknife, but if you forgot yours he was happy to loan you his or give you one to keep.

Mr. Thomas was a lifetime member of Toomsuba Presbyterian Church.  He leaves a legacy of good story-telling, grilling skills, and hunting knowledge.  He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Survivors include his son, Kenneth Thomas (Rachel) of Starkville, sister Janet Salvo (Edgar) of Hertford, NC, sister Dollie Cottrill of Blacksburg, VA, brother John Thomas (Jo) of Toomsuba, brother Rob Thomas (Rhonda) of Lauderdale, grandchildren Newt, Katie, Houston, and Jane Thomas of Starkville, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends whom he loved and who loved him.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Faye Thomas, son Freddy Thomas, parents Kenneth L. and Ruth Thomas, and best friend Newt Sharp.

The family requests memorials be made to Toomsuba Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 250, Toomsuba, MS 39364.

Pallbearers will be Michael Chatham, Cliff Clayton, Jerry Paige, Gary Pickett, Robby Pickett, Heath Thomas, Newt Thomas, Peter Thomas, and Jim White.  Honorary Pallbearers are Bobby Barrett, Don Branning, Billy Barrett, and the men of Toomsuba Presbyterian Church.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.

The Thomas family will receive guests Sunday, July 26, 2020 from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home.  The funeral home is operating at 50% capacity and is practicing social distancing.  Facial masks are required prior to admittance to the funeral home.