Gladys Juanita Thomas

Gladys was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Marion Peterson and Damon Thomas, (deceased) on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1962.  She attended and graduated from Burnet Street Elementary School and University High School in Newark, New Jersey. She attended HBCU, Lincoln University, where she graduated with a B.A. degree in Political Science in 1984. She went on to complete her master’s degree, also from Lincoln University, in Social Services in 2012.

Gladys worked as a daycare center Director at several programs in Essex County for over 20 years. She was heavily involved in church activities such as Bible studies and singing in the church choir. Gladys loved to dance, knit, and crochet. She had a great sense of humor and was extremely funny. She loved to bake sweet potato pies (her father’s recipe) and her famous chocolate chip cookies – which she occasionally shipped from Florida to her nephew Kwabena, who would hide them, so he didn’t have to share. 

Gladys Thomas is preceded in death by her father, Damon Thomas (1992). 

She is survived to mourn her loss by her Beloved daughter, Amanee Rice Tyson; mother, Marion J. Peterson; sisters, Zakiyyah Zai’mah and Katrynah Talbert-Smith; her Beloved grandson, Bryson Tyson; Aunt, Lillian Jones; nephew, Kwabena Sharif; bonus nephews and nieces: Ibrahim Sharif Shabaka, Bayyinah Marbury, Rabiyyah Sharif, and Usman Sharif. Also, to mourn her passing are her dearest friends: Francis Baker, Tracy Tucker, Judy Bey, Amanee’s fiancé, Ian Adams, and a host of family members and friends.

A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held at 1 pm for viewing and 2 pm for the service on Tuesday, January 10th at Israel Memorial Church located at 54 Lincoln Street, Newark, NJ. 

The family of Gladys Juanita Thomas wishes to extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to the Cleveland Clinic, Davita Dialysis, Clearview Baptist Church (her home church) and Piney Grove Baptist Church.

Instead of flowers, contributions may be made to the National Kidney Donation Organization.