Mrs. Deborah Novella Thomas

Evangelist Thomas and her sister, Ora Lee relocated to Arlington, California. They attended the Fourth Avenue Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Elder O.L. Folsom. The sisters traveled locally and around the state singing duets. While in California, she attended the Avenell Junior High School and Hanford High School. Returning to Dallas, she attended Booker T. Washington High School and later transferred to St. Peters Academy where she graduated in 1950, as Salutatorian. After high school, her educational goals were met while attending and graduating from Phillips Business College (Dallas) and Baptist Interracial Institute, earning a degree in Theology (Dallas).

Deborah Novella Turner was introduced to holiness at a young age by her father Elder George T. Turner, and her mother, Lee Ora Long Turner, (a teacher in the Dallas School system). She was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost, at age 7, at the North Park Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Elder H.Y. Guise. Evangelist Deborah Thomas was a gospel teacher, evangelist and entrepreneur. She served the Church of God in Christ for over sixty years on a local, jurisdictional and international level. Bishops, Superintendents, Evangelists and lay persons are numbered among the converts the Lord allowed her to usher into His kingdom.

As a leader, a list of her many accomplishments include, Anniversary Chairperson for 30 years, civic commitments, entrepreneur, youth counselor, aide to Texas Northeast State Supervisors including pioneers, Mother Bertha Polk and Mother Emma F. Barron, among so many others.

Evangelist Thomas married the late John H. Thomas on June 14, 1958 and to this union, one daughter was born, LaDonna Thomas Slay.

Evangelist Thomas served as a District Missionary at the City of Refuge District in 1984. Jurisdictionally, she was licensed as a Missionary at the age of 17. She was also licensed as an Evangelist Missionary in 1972 and has evangelized throughout the United States. She was appointed Jurisdictional Y.P.W.W. Chairlady in 1954, by Bishop F.L. Haynes and State Mother Bertha Polk, making her at age 21, the youngest chairlady serving in the C.O.G.I.C. As Chairlady, she raised funds through King and Queen’s Contests to send 4 to 5 youth to National Youth Congresses annually. Evangelist Thomas also served as Texas Northeast Finance Chairperson, Department of Women.

On the National Level, Evangelist Deborah Thomas, served faithfully as secretary to Mother Chairlady J.V. Hearne, and later as the International Assistant Chairlady to Mother Clara Cantrell Clemmons. The Lord saw and rewarded her faithfulness. In 1992, she was appointed Chairlady of the International Youth Department. Under her leadership, she established the Chairlady’s Luncheon, and the National Queen’s Pageant Contest and wrote and published the Y.P.W.W. Chairlady’s Training Manual.

As a National Evangelist and later Jurisdictional and International Chairlady, she ministered throughout the United States of America and Rome, Italy. Bishop Roy L. Winbush gave her the first opportunity to speak in the evening services at U.N.A.C. where she brought the message, “Lord, Revive Us Again!”, one of her most popular messages. Her crowning achievement during her tenure as International Chairlady was that “the chairladies worked in harmony and peace – we worked well together” for the good of the church and the kingdom of God. Evangelist Thomas loved the Church of God in Christ and vowed to serve the Lord, in whatever capacity she could. As International Chairlady, she served under International Presidents, Bishop Charles H. Brewer II and Bishop J. Drew Sheard.

She was affectionately known as Aunt Chicken, Aunt Googoo, Aunt Deborah , D.T, Sis. Deborah, Mother Thomas Mom, Granny, Gigi.

Evangelist Thomas was preceded in death by her husband, John H. Thomas, her adopted daughter, Alcyone Denise Howard and nine siblings preceded her in death.

She leaves to love, her daughter, LaDonna Thomas Slay; her step-son, Martinez Smith (Gloria); foster son, Eddie Offord (Pamela), (1) grandson, Marlon Smith and (4) granddaughters, Megan Greer (James); Quiana Chambers (Damion); Amanda Davis (Anthony); Elizabeth Howard and adopted granddaughter, Erica Milton; and (8) great-grandchildren; Sadie and Electra Greer, Chloe Davis, DeTrevion, DeJanae, D’Maya, Dominick and D’Kaya Chambers.

Brothers and sisters; Ace D. Turner, Robert L. Turner, Lillian B. Turner, Frederick Turner, Reverend Dr. Samuel C. Turner, Clifton O. Turner, and Dorothy Turner, all of California. Ross Turner, and Evangelist Diane Hendricks of Texas. An adopted sister, Mae Francis Keesee and a host of relatives and friends.