William Edward Thomas

William Edward Thomas, age 81, of Cleveland, went to his Heavenly Home on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.

Mr. Thomas was born on May 1, 1944, in Cleveland, Georgia where he lived all his life. He accepted Jesus in his heart as a young child and was a lifelong member of Mt. View Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon. His favorite Bible verse was John 3:16. William was drafted into the United States Army in 1967 and went to Vietnam in the Americal Division. He was a charter member of the White County Honor Guard and was very passionate about his service of providing veterans military funeral honors. In his younger years, William worked at Cleveland Grocery, Ames Textile, White County Farmers Exchange, and later worked for the Georgia Department of Transportation where he retired in 2006. His hobbies were gardening, driving tractors, hunting, and fishing as long as he was able.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Charlie, Sr. and Myrtie Bell Harper Thomas and one brother, Donald Thomas.

Survivors are his wife, Mary Louise Adams Thomas; Son, Gregory (Jennifer) Thomas; Daughter, Julie (Robert) Durden; grandchildren, Georgia Thomas, Lydia Durden, Clara Thomas, Benton Thomas, and Sarah Durden; Brothers, Richard (Frances) Thomas, Roy (Bobbie) Thomas, Dennis (Patsy) Thomas, and Charlie Jr. (Barbara) Thomas; all of Cleveland, Georgia. Additionally, he is survived by numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Services are scheduled for 3:00 P.M. Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Mt. View Baptist Church with the Rev. Mike Irvin, Rev. Kevin Woody, and Rev. Terry Head officiating. Interment will be in the Mt. View Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. Wednesday.

To share a memory or to leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.barrettfh.com

Barrett Funeral Home of Cleveland | (706) 865-3101