Rev. Thomas Wesley Miles, Sr.

Born May 10, 1943 in Navasota, Texas to Wesley and Tommie Dell Miles, Thomas Wesley Miles, Sr. seemed destined to be a man of great integrity and determination right from the very beginning. He was the eldest of ten children and born in the middle of World War II to a military father (U.S. Navy) and stay home mother. He grew up in Trinity Gardens where he learned the value of hard work and survival early in life. Thomas began working at a neighborhood grocery store, Sun Yick, to help provide for his family when he was 10 years old and continued working there into his teen years. This experience helped Thomas develop the strong work ethic that he carried with him throughout his professional career. Thomas enjoyed school and attributed his academic success to the great teachers who nurtured and encouraged him. He graduated from Kashmere High School and went on to study at Texas Southern University (TSU). During his time at TSU, it was the height of the Civil Rights Movement. He worked as a salesman (and later in management) at Montgomery Wards Department Store in Texas, where he met and married the love of his life, Ethel (Moore). Thomas gained an extended family that loved and treasured him when he married Ethel in 1965. He embraced her family as his own-- gaining another set of parents whom he loved and cared for as his own and a second set of siblings who always considered him a brother. The couple welcomed their first child, Thomas, Jr. (Tommy) into the world on May 18, 1967 and four years later; they were blessed with a baby girl, LaTanya. Thomas loved being Daddy and took pleasure in providing a good life for his children. The 1970's and the promise of integration ushered in a new era. Thomas and Ethel moved to the suburbs of Houston to raise their two children and pursue their careers. Thomas followed in the footsteps of his mentor and uncle, Willie Miles, who owned a thriving dry cleaning business. Thomas and Ethel opened their first business, Airline Washateria in 1970. They went on to own dry cleaners and several other successful businesses. Thomas and his family became members of Mt. Pillow Baptist Church in 1974, where he became an ordained deacon and minister. He has served in many ministries at Community of Faith and enjoyed studying God's word. The latter half of his career was spent at Home Depot, where he was honored with the distinguished title of Living Legend. At the age of 71, he had no intentions of retiring. He loved his work and the people he with whom he worked. Thomas Wesley Miles, Sr. was a family man who loved life, God, and his family. He leaves to continue his legacy Ethel Miles (wife), Thomas Miles, II (son), LaTanya Miles (daughter) and Jacqueline Smith Miles (daughter-in-law). He also leaves three grandchildren to cherish his memory: Thomas, III, Sydnei, and Jhordyn. Thomas Wesley will be missed by his siblings: Louis (Joyce) Miles, Lottie Skinner, Dumas (Rena) Miles, Alice (Ray) James, Cliff (Pam) Miles, Johnny Miles; a host of nieces, nephews, friends and relatives.