Clarke County GaArchives Obituaries.....Thomas, Stevens   August 16, 1891
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Connie Epps-Bond http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00016.html#0003902 January 12, 2008, 2:56 pm

Athens Banner, Athens, Georgia, Tuesday morning, November 3, 1891

Col. Stevens Thomas
Athens Banner, Athens, Georgia, Tuesday morning, November 3, 1891
Transcribed by C. Epps Bond 8/17/2004

Col. Stevens Thomas 

“Life’s Fitful fever o er, he rests well.” 

His Death Yesterday 

A Life Full of Usefulness Closes Peacefully in its Seventy-eight year – the 
oldest native citizen of Athens – The funeral this afternoon. 

There is a time in the life of every man when he must die.  The giant oak of 
the forest, though it stands the storms of the rolling centuries, some day 
must crumble and return to the soil from whence it sprung. 

And yesterday morning, as the sunlight of morn gladdened the city with its 
brilliancy, another old and respected citizen passed away. 

A life extended beyond the measure of years allotted to man on earth; crowned 
with the rich fruits of duties well performed; rounded into the full 
perfection of uright and useful manhood; and mellowed with the ripeness of an 
honored old age:  - so lived and died Col Stevens Thomas. 

For some time Col. Thomas had been in failing health, and though his death was 
sudden, it was not altogether unexpected. 

Last July, he was stricken with paralysis but recovered from his illness so 
far as to be able to come down to his office.  He never fully recovered, and 
the weight of years bore down heavily upon him. 

For the last week he had required the constant attention of his physicians, 
Dr. Goss and Carlton, who remained constantly at his bedside.  Sunday 
afternoon he was feeling better and took a drive with his son, Prof. George D. 
Thomas.

Yesterday morning about six o’clock he called to his son, Capt. W. W. Thomas, 
who was sitting near by, to put some coal on the fire, and just as he finished 
speaking, sank back upon his pillow, and in a few minutes expired. 

A sudden stroke of apoplexy had sumonded the aged sufferer home. 

Col. Stevens Thomas was the oldest native citizen of Athens, having been born 
in this city on June 27, 1814, and hence being in his seventy-eighth year.  At 
an early age he entered the University of Georgia and graduted in 1832 in the 
class with Alexander H. Stephens. 

Shortly thereafter, he entered Yale college and completed the law course 
there, but never practiced after his admission to the bar. 

On June 20, 1836 he was united in married to Miss Isabella Hayes, of Milton, 
N.C., who survives him.  Col. Thomas leaves six children, Capt. W. W. Thomas, 
Prof. George D. Thomas, Mr. Stevens Tomas, Jr., of Athens; Mrs. Howard Van 
Epps, of Atlanta, Mrs. Carlton Hillyer, of Augusta, and Mrs. J. H. Fleming of 
Athens. 

For many years of his younger life he followed the occupation of a planter, 
and subsequently became president of the Athens Bank in which position he 
remained until the breaking out of the war.  Of all the banks destroyed by the 
war in Georgia, this was the oly one that returned every dollar to its 
depositors. 

After the war, Col. Thomas became Secretary and General Agent of the Southern 
Mutual Insurance Company in 1867, which position he filled most satisfactorily 
until the day of his death.

For twenty-odd years he was a director of the Georgia railroad and at the time 
of his death, was the oldest in office of any of the directors of this road.  
He was also one of the committee of five who managed the lease of the Georgia 
railroad. 

During the term of eleven years, Col. Thomas was an honored and useful member 
of the Board of Trustees of the University of Georgia. 

A private citizen with no love for public life, he crowned his career with a 
wreath of civic honors. 

He was a man of upright character, eminently intelligent and useful, of 
unblemished integrity and a citizen that Athens can ill afford to lose. 

The funeral services will be conducted this afternoon at three o’clock by Rev. 
C. W. Lane at the late residence of the deceased on Pulaski Street. 

There will be an honorary escort consisting of the directors of the Southern 
Mutual Insurance Company, Judge Young L. G. Harris, Dr. John A. Hunnicutt, 
Col. L. H. Charbonnier, Dr. E. S. Lyndon, Mr. R. K. Reaves, Dr. R. I. Hampton, 
Mrs. A. E. Griffith, and Mr. Billups Phinizy. 

The body will be borne forth by the following pall bearers: 

Hon. Pope Barrow, Dr. H. C. White, Prof. Chas. Morris, Judge S. M. Herrington, 
Mr. A. J. Cobb, Mr. Jacob Phinizy, Mr. E. T. Brown, and Capt. John W. Brumby. 

With sorrowing hearts and loving hands they will tenderly lower the moral 
remains of this old and esteemed citizen to their last resting place, while 
the example of his life will live in the memory of all who knew and loved him




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