Jewellee Harris Thomas, 90, of Ocilla, passed away Monday, October 31, 2022, at Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton.
She was born December 20, 1931, in Wayne County, to the late James Allen Harris and Emmaline Godwin Harris. She was an honor graduate of Patterson High School, holding the title of “Miss Patterson High School” and also “Miss Pierce County Farm Bureau.” She also played on the varsity basketball team for four years. Later, she attended Ben-Hill Irwin Technical College, studying accounting. She was an insurance agent for Rogers and McCranie Insurers for 33 years until retirement. She was a member of the Ocilla Pilot Club for several years, serving as corresponding secretary and was a director of the Ocilla Chamber of Commerce for several years. She was honored in 2005 as “Director of the Year.” She also served and worked with the American Cancer Society and Blue-Gray Community Hospice. She was a member of the Ocilla Baptist Church and the Gleaners Sunday School Class. She was very active in the WMU and sang in the choir for 30 years.
She was married to her high school sweetheart, the love of her life, and together they raised two daughters, Tamara and Donna. She was an accomplished, self-taught artist. She started painting and drawing at a very young age and painted well into her 90s. She donated many paintings to various charities for auctions. She was very generous with her creations, giving away more than she sold. She lived a very active life and lived in her home on the family farm alone for 23 years, after her husband passed away. After she turned 90, she moved to Cypress Pond Senior Care, and resided there for the last seven months. She dearly loved the Lord, her family, friends, animals and all of nature.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jule Edward Thomas; a daughter, Donna Thomas Reed; a sister, Juanita Harris Smiley and four brothers:, Virgil Harris (infant), the Rev. Clyde Harris, Raymond Harris and Bufford Harris; a sister-in-law, Martha Harris and a niece, Gina Cowan Todd.
She is survived by a loving daughter, Tamara Thomas,, Valdosta; a sister, Maxine “Tootsie” Cowan and Gene; a brother, Harley Harris and Ann; sisters-in-law: Faye Harris and Virginia Harris; long-time friends: Vernon and Jean Biggers, Bobby and Susan Paulk and her caregivers and friends, other than her daughter, Marchman and Elke Howell.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at the funeral home in Ocilla.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, November 4, from the Patterson Cemetery in Patterson with the Rev. Robert Couey and the Rev. Billy Stephens officiating.
To sign the online registry, go to www.paulkfuneralhome.com.
Paulk Funeral Home, Ocilla, is in charge of arrangements.
