Mr. Julius Thomas, Jr.

Mr. Julius Thomas, Jr. was born September 10, 1934 to Julious and Samella Thomas in Dumas, AR. Julius “J.T.”, Jr. grew up in a loving family with his parents and 12 siblings.

He was a young man when his family migrated to CA in 1946. Upon his arrival in CA, Julius attended schools in the Richmond Unified School District.

Julius married the love of his life, Juanita, on September 4, 1954. To this union, 3 children were born: Linda, Sharon, and Gregory. He was a protector and provider which made him an ideal husband and a role model too many. From maintaining his home to fixing cars- he was his own “handy-man.” He enjoyed traveling with the family and bowling.

Julius got a fulltime job working as a Dish Factory worker in El Cerrito, CA. He then was then hired on with the United States Postal Service where he was employed for 30 years until his retirement. He also worked a second job as a bill collector for a well-known attorney in Richmond. Julius, in order to further his education in hopes of obtaining a better position with the postal service began taking business and accounting classes at Contra Costa College. His vision paid off as he moved up the ranks. Julius was well liked in the postal community and to everyone who visited the post office; always looked for “Mr. Thomas.”

Julius understood the meaning of family and was a consistent attendee at Thomas Family Reunions. He made to always take his family… who are now consistent attendees. He maintained great relationships with extended family across the U. S. as well as, his immediate family here in CA. He made sure his children knew their family history and encouraged them to maintain those same relationships.

But let us not forget... Julius was a devoted RAIDERS FAN, Yes, a Raider for Life! He travelled and tailgated near and far, too many games for years and years. He held the PSL, and was a season ticket holder until the move to Las Vegas. He was so happy that he was able to attend a game last year in Las Vegas to experience the new Raider Stadium. He enjoyed every minute of it.

As a Man, Husband, Father, Friend, Associate, you could not find a better person to be associated with. Julius was a person who always had a pleasant personality, always had a smile for everyone. His friends, his siblings friends, his children’s friends all loved and adored him. He was a man if means; He was what you would call a QUALITY MAN.

Julius was a faithful deacon at his church. After retirement, he and Juanita moved to Stockton, CA and joined Greater Faith Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon. He later joined Greater Harvest Fellowship Church under the leadership of Pastor La Vell Jones until his health failed him and he could no longer attend. He also loved being a member of Keystone Lodge.

Julius is survived by his wife Juanita, daughters Linda Youngblood, Sharon Miller (Stephen) and a son, Gregory Thomas (Deborah). Grandchildren, Michael (Tanisha), Lachelle (Anthony), Rachelle, Thimothy, Julius, Jamesha (Jerome), Marcus (Vanessa), Juanita (Samuel), Shanice, and Trenton and 23 great-grandchildren. He also leaves to cherish his memory, his brothers- Jesse Thomas (Brenda), Chester Thomas, and Sister Mary Thomas, and a host of nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Julius is preceded in death by his parents Juliuos and Samella Thomas, and siblings Bonnie Roosevelt, Quincy, Irene, Jellean, Isadoria, Lovie, Chessie, Jessie, Essie, Oshon, son-in-law’s, Michael Youngblood and Timothy Butler.

WHEN GREAT TREES FALL

When great trees fall,


rocks on distant hills shudder,
lions hunker down
in tall grasses,


and even elephants
lumber after safety.



When great trees fall
in forests,


small things recoil into silence,
their senses
eroded beyond fear.



When great souls die,


the air around us becomes
light, rare, sterile.


We breathe, briefly. Our eyes, briefly,
see with
a hurtful clarity.


Our memory, suddenly sharpened,
examines,
gnaws on kind words


unsaid,
promised walks
never taken.


Great souls die and
our reality, bound to
them, takes leave of us.


Our souls,
dependent upon their
nurture,
now shrink, wizened.


Our minds, formed
and informed by their
radiance,
fall away.


We are not so much maddened
as reduced to the unutterable ignorance
of dark, cold


caves.



And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill


with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.


Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.


They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better.

For they existed.

― Maya Angelou