On March 22, 1924 Thaddeous Roosevelt Coley and Lessie Revis Coley of the Northside Community in Creedmoor welcome their first child; a daughter Dorothy. On Saturday January 25, 2020she transitioned into eternal peace and serenity. She leaves behind a legacy of nurturing intelligence, curiosity and kindness. Her greatest legacy is the family she built and sustained.

Dorothy came to the Lord early in saving faith early as a child. She was a steadfast and faithful child of God. She was baptized at the Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church. There she served as a Deaconess. She was also a member of the Senior Choir, Home Mission Circle and District #3. She was educated in the Granville County School System and a graduate of Creedmoor Colored Grade School now G.C. Hawley. She was a retired state employee of John Umstead Hospital in Butner, NC where she was a cook. After retirement she went to work at Shelliot's Department Store in Creedmoor. She then worked for Shirmarro's Clothing also in Creedmoor. She was a Treasurer and a member of the Christian Willing Workers.

She married James Lester "Lec" Thomas. The young family moved to Raleigh where they started a family. After a brief stay in Butner, they moved back to Creedmoor to the Pecan Hill Community known as "The Hill". In 2017, she was honored as the surviving elder of the community.

Affectionally known as "Ma Ma" she was the Matriarch of the family. She loved to laugh and to make people happy. She loved nothing more than seeing her entire family together and you could see the quiet joy on her face as she watched her surroundings. She will be remembered for her grace, her wisdom, her love of family, yet she was a private person. She made considerable sacrifices to ensure that her children and grandchildren had everything that they needed. She valued education and challenged them intellectually while making them feel secure and valued. She taught by example about loyalty, commitment and always putting God first.

She shared a very close relationship with her siblings. They were a tight knit family. Together they were inseparable. They loved each other. During the summers, they had a huge garden on their mother and father's property that was shared with family and friends even strangers. Also during the summers, the family would travel to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts to gather.

She did not hold academic degrees, but she was a scholar in taking care of those around her. She was not rich by monetary standards, but she was a millionaire in friends and family. She was never in the headlines of the day, but she was firmly in the hearts and thoughts of many people she loved and cherished. She was a great woman who knew and understood how to build a strong and supportive home. She believed in God, family and hard work. Whether she was tirelessly working on the farm, preparing meals for the family, she was serving God by serving and caring for others.

Ma Ma had an innate ability to bind others together with a distinct passion and flare for foods. With a warm heart and open hand, her unwavering gift of love through various flavors, delicacies and creations would serve as a touchstone and testament uniting hearts, minds and spirits in the service of fellowship and love. Her ingenuity raised a family, her heartstrings stirred a community.

Remembering her in love are her children: Carolyn T. (Calvin) Harris of Oxford, NC, Cheryl T. Smith of Durham, NC and Lester "Ronnie" Thomas, Sr. of Durham, NC; her grandchildren: Vincent H. Thomas of Wilmington, NC, Lester "Ron" Thomas, Jr. of Durham, NC, Lynwood "Lynk" (Tisha) Smith, Jr. of Creedmoor, NC., Chastiny L. (Montrel) Caldwell of Greensboro, NC, Leslie H. (Eddie) Ellis of Mebane, NC, Calvin "C.J." Harris, Jr. of Oxford, NC and Ronald N. (Shiree) Smith, Jr. of Butner, NC; eighteen great grandchildren and two great great children; many nieces and nephews, The Glover/Tyler family and many many dear friends.

She is now joined with the ancestors, her parents, husband, siblings: Alene, Clementine, J.C. and Lennis and a companion of many years Bert Glover.

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 12:00 P.M. at Wright Funeral Home Chapel by Rev. Dorothy Evans. Burial be in Pine Grove Baptist Church cemetery. A viewing is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 28 from 11:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M. at Wright Funeral Home. The family will be available Tuesday afternoon at 6:00 P.M. at the funeral home, and will also receive visitors one hour prior to services on Wednesday.