Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Thomas, Floretta Virginia Sears January 1, 2007
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Diane Renfrow dianel14@gmail.com April 22, 2016, 7:34 pm

Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - January 3, 2007
NORFOLK - Swiftly, as the sun was setting Jan. 1, 2007, our heavenly Father
called from labor to reward our beloved mother, sister, grandmother and
great-grandmother, Floretta Virginia Sears Thomas. She was the eighth of 15
children born Feb. 18, 1925, to the late William Harvey Sears and Eunice Mears
Sears in the Old Huntersville section of Norfolk.

She graduated in the 1943 class of Booker T. Washington High School and attended
St. Philip School of Nursing, Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, where she
became a student leader and was commissioned a cadet nurse during World War II.
She graduated as a registered nurse.

Following graduation, she was employed at several local hospitals including
Norfolk Community, Norfolk General and Portsmouth Naval. Later, she was a night
nursing supervisor at the Brooklyn Jewish Hospital and Park Nursing Home in
Rockaway Park, N.Y. Her last nursing position was as night charge nurse in the
Child and Early Adolescent Unit of the Human Resource Institute.

A lifelong member of the Historic First Baptist Church, Bute Street, she served
in several ministries including the Junior Ushers, the Junior Choir, the
Hospitality Ministry and the Dora Billups Missionary Circle.

In the community, she was founder/president of Walls Inc. (Women Allied Liasions
Leaders of Strength). Floretta also served as president of the Committee of 100
Women. She was a past matron of Adah Chapter No. 20, Order of the Eastern Star,
PHA and a member of the Daughters of Isis.

Left to cherish her memory are two sons, retired Justice John Charles Thomas and
Dr. Clarence Walter Thomas, both of Richmond; two daughters, Estelle L. Thomas
of Richmond and Jerelene Thomas Corcoran of Virginia Beach; sisters, Dr. Evelyn
Sears Peevy of Norfolk, Eunice Sears Frazier of Maryland, Lucy Sears McCray of
Arizona and Lula Sears Rogers of Chesapeake; brother, Lt. Col. Charles Walter
Sears of Ohio; daughters-in-law, Pearl Walden Thomas and Shirley Robinson
Thomas; son-in-law, John Allan Corcoran; sisters-in-law, Ruth L. Sears of
Norfolk, Onnye Jean Sears of Atlanta and Kathy Sears; brothers-in-law, Bobby
McCray of Arizona and William J. Rogers of Chesapeake, Houston Thomas (Bonnie)
of Staunton; and a beloved goddaughter, Colynn D. Jenkins of Richmond.

She was predeceased by her parents, William Harvey and Eunice Mears Sears; her
husband, John Thomas; and nine siblings.

Her cherished grandchildren who will always remember her are: John Charles
Thomas Jr., Michael Allan Corcoran, Ruby Virginia Thomas, Claire Whitney Thomas,
Lewis LeGrant Thomas, Jessica Deniece Corcoran, Lydia Elaine Corcoran, Virginia
Ann Corcoran, Candace Estelle Thomas and Matthew Howard Corcoran;
great-granddaughter, Amani LyAnn Corcoran-Simmons; and a host of nieces and
nephews.

A God-fearing woman who was seldom lost for words, a devoted mother, a caring
sister and "trooper" to the end, she will be missed by a host of family members
and friends.

A funeral will be conducted Friday at noon in First Baptist Church, Bute Street,
418 E. Bute St., with the Rev. Dr. Robert G. Murray officiating. Burial will be
in Calvary Cemetery. Viewing will be Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m. The body will be
placed in the church at 11 a.m. Friday. A Christian wake will be held at the
funeral home Thursday at 7 p.m. The family will be at 4549 Hollingsworth Lane,
Virginia Beach, and 5313 Halter Lane, Norfolk. Riddick Funeral Service is in
charge of the arrangements.

Additional Comments:
Calvary Cemetery

THOMAS, FLORETTA SEARS 551 Section OLD CALVARY, Block C, Space 1 81 F 01/05/2007

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