Patrick Brandon Thomas

Patrick was born in Beckley, West Virginia on March 22, 1986. He was the third child and first-born son of Thames Thomas and Leslie Jackson. Patrick, his parents, his two older sisters, Dana Turmel and Carmen Thomas, and his younger brother, Matthew Thomas, settled down in North Canton, Ohio in the early 90s. There, he and his three siblings had a wholesome childhood of playing outside, riding bikes, building forts, catching lightning bugs, conducting puppet shows, watching Nickelodeon, playing Nintendo, acting up, and yes, getting their share of spankings. Patrick, in particular, was known for being an adventurous and mischievous child.

Patrick graduated from Jackson Memorial High School in Massillon Ohio. There he enjoyed math and technical studies. He participated in various team sports, including lacrosse, roller hockey, and he excelled in soccer, largely because he was so fast and could outmaneuver the other players to score with ease. He also demonstrated excellence in carpentry and woodwork at an early age. After graduating from high school, Patrick took a year off before attending Hocking College and later Akron University. It became evident, however, that the traditional route towards education and a career was not for him. In his words, he wanted to, “Go out, do my own thing and define my own person” by being an entrepreneur, and his own boss. Over the years, he worked on turning his hobbies into income generators, creating beautiful wooden and lacquered bird houses that he called Churp Houses. He also enjoyed writing lyrics, rapping, and free styling. There was a time when you couldn’t talk to Patrick without him integrating bars and flow into a normal conversation.

As part of his religious life, he attended St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Canton Ohio with his family. While he eventually stopped attending mass regularly, Patrick’s relationship with God strengthened throughout his life. In his early twenties, a youth minister at John Knox Presbyterian Church invited him to attend a church service, which led to Patrick becoming a youth leader in their ministry. Later in his life he often talked of his time as a youth leader, and came to express his faith in discussion, art, rap, and even a tattoo of two hands in prayer. He could also really preach. One of his favorite quotes was, “Our good deeds will be honored at the end of the tunnel. We must have a blast and forget about the struggles of the past. Praise God that the happy times will ever last. Amen.”

Despite being a beautiful, remarkably thoughtful and creative soul, many of Patrick’s dreams were thwarted by his mental health struggles. Through his various life transitions he was supported by a network of family, loving parents and siblings, devoted grandparents, aunts, an uncle, and cousins. Patrick’s passion to stay connected to family reflects how much he loved and was loved by his family in return.

Patrick departed this life at the age of 37. He is predeceased by his grandparents, Rayford Jackson, Dorris Jackson, Thames Thomas and Alfreter Thomas; his uncle Jeffrey Jackson, and aunt Jaqueline Thomas. He is lovingly remembered by his mother Leslie Jackson, his father Thames Alvin Thomas, his sisters Dana Turmel (Pierre) and Carmen Thomas, his brother Matthew Thomas (Tina), his aunts Lorie, Lynette and Lydia Jackson, and Beatrice Thomas, as well as a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cummingsanddavisfh.com for the Thomas family.