Michael "Mike" Cager Thomas

Dr. Michael Cager Thomas was born and grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he attended the University of Alabama for a year before transferring to Baylor University. While a Baylor student he pastored several Texas churches. He then graduated from Harvard Divinity School and served as a pastor in Virginia where he met his future (first) wife Vaughn Hodnett.

He later received his PhD in Sociology from UNC-CH and taught sociology at Western Carolina University and Salem College.

Mike loved helping people. Besides teaching in universities he served as a management and team-building consultant working within the NC Department of Transportation, then the NC Governor’s Office, and later working as an independent consultant to organizations throughout NC, and in SC, Texas, Chicago, San Francisco, South Africa and England. When he tired of the traveling he worked as a life and career-change consultant in Raleigh, holding workshops and coaching individuals.

Mike met his future wife Pat on a blind date in 1992, and they married a year later at Pullen. They enjoyed the beach, eating seafood and making jambalaya , good movies, their kitties and the joy of just being together.

He is survived by Pat, son Scott Thomas (Asheville) and Paul Thomas and his wife Cathy and daughter Natalie (Jamestown).

A memorial service for Michael will be held Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church.

Contributions in Mike’s honor to Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, 1801 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27605.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh is serving the Thomas family.