Erma James Thomas December 10, 1948 - June 3, 2020

Erma Thomas, of Brinkley, passed away at the age of 71. She was born in Brinkley, to Oswald and Cora Clay. Erma grew up in Brinkley and attended Marion Anderson High School. She accepted Jesus Christ at the early age of 12. Erma was united in Holy Matrimony in 1970 to Robert Lee Thomas. Shortly after marriage, she moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she resided for 15 years before returning to Brinkley. She was a member of Faith Temple Church, and was a loving housewife and had two magnificent daughters.

Erma's daily activities included doing word search puzzles, watching westerns, and communicating with family and friends, especially her best friend, Ruby Lang, and church member, Mother Allen. She truly enjoyed spending time with those she loved. She enjoyed listening to her gospel music on the television with a very loud sound to spread the word throughout the house. She was a member of Perfecting New Life for several years before joining Walnut Grove Ministries with her daughter, Evelyn Clay, in 2015. She loved giving praise to God through the beat of her tambourine. She loved attending Sunday School, listening to her pastor preach the word, and she was also a member of the Mother Board.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Lee Thomas; siblings, Bernice O’Neal, George Clay, and Percy Clay. Leaving to cherish her memories are her loving daughters, Evelyn Clay and Adrianne (Cedric) Brown, both of Little Rock; grandchildren, Ashley Plummer, Chasity Brown, and Amiyah Brown, all of Little Rock; her brothers, James Clay, of Houston, TX, Raymond Clay, of North Little Rock, and Henry (Beverly) Clay, of Elmont, NY; sisters, Bonnie (Elgin) Coleman, of Plano, TX, Rosie Jones, of Brinkley, Bessie Daniels and Josephine (Bennie) Brown, all of Little Rock, Mae Bertha Haggans, of Chicago, IL, and Lillian (Donnie) Williams and Josephine Beatty, all of Houston, TX; In-laws, Bertha Tribble, of Chicago, IL; and a host of friends and family.

Visitation will be Friday, June 12, 5-8 pm at Walnut Grove Ministries, 1000 1st, North Little Rock. Memorial service will be graveside at Haven of Rest Cemetery, 400 1st Street, Brinkley, Saturday, June 13, 10-11 am, with viewing and service 11 to noon. Services are entrusted to McNeal Coleman Funeral Home Inc. in Brinkley.