Lena Thomas was born on July 28, 1937, to the late William and Lena Thomas in Birmingham, Alabama. She was the youngest sister and the fifth of nine children.
Lena spent most of her formative years in Chicago, Ill. She accepted Christ as her Savior as teen at St. Matthews Methodist Church in Chicago. Although she received a scholarship to Northwestern University after graduating from Wells High School, Lena instead married the love and joy of her life, William “Red” Thurmond, on August 21, 1954. To this union, four children were born – Keith William, Kim Delisa, Albert Shannon, and Sharron.
Lena lived in Chicago and Topeka, Kansas while William completed his military service. After he was discharged in 1959, the family moved to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. In 1964, Lena and William relocated to Covina, California and soon purchased a dry cleaner’s plant, which Lena ran until 1990.
After her children got older, Lena attended and graduated with an AA degree from El Camino College and was later hired as a special education teacher at Billy Mitchell Elementary School. She always said that the seven years of working with special needs children was one of her most rewarding experiences. She later retired due to health reasons.
Lena became the first lady of Sunnyside Baptist Church in 1968 where William served as pastor. Years later, she served with William as first lady of Park Windsor Baptist Church until he retired in 2010. Faithful to her God, standing beside her husband and faithful, not only to her own family, but to her church family; she had a true compassion for the ministry of the youth and education.
Many people recall Lena as a gracious first lady, who was iconic for her fashionable style as she always looked impeccable on Sunday mornings. Lena had a quiet spirit and like Mary, she kept within her heart, but through her wisdom and love for the Lord, she was empathetic to many.
Also, Lena was an excellent cook, who rarely cooked with actual recipes, but from “scratch” and learned a lot of the special dishes from her mother-in-law, Senora. She fed many including her son’s Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, college friends of both her children and grandchildren, house guest and visitors. Her meals and desserts will always be memorable to all that stopped by the house.
Lena’s faith brought her comfort, peace, and solace in some of her most difficult days. She returned God’s love through her generous heart of giving to so many whose lives she touched. On Feb. 6, God called her home where she met her son, Keith William, and other family members in the presence of the Lord.
She was preceded in death by her oldest sibling, Johnnie Mae Gholston, and seven brothers, Walter Sr., Joe Sr., Bill (Rabbit), Herbert, Johnny Lee, Charles, and Raymond.
Lena is survived by Kim (Mark) Foster, Shannon (Kathy) Thurmond, Sharron Thurmond, “adopted” daughter, Rita Robinson Kane (Michael Kane, deceased); grandchildren, Portia Thurmond, Ashleigh (Juan) Vega, Kameron (Kristeen) Thurmond, Kandice (Brian) Frazier, Kourtney Thurmond, Lauren Thurmond, Marek Foster, Konner Foster, Asa Scott, and Selena Thurmond; great grandchildren, Kamilla Thurmond, Jaden Frazier, Naomi Frazier, Kaiya Thurmond, Geneieve Vega, Kristian Thurmond, Xiomara and Nayeli Vega, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives.
