Esther Ruth Thomas
1928-05-02 2022-03-11
An esteemed and passionate educator Esther Ruth Cassimere Thomas “Ruddie” transitioned on March 11, 2022 to her heavenly home. She was the last child of seven children born to Moses and Lelia Batiste Cassimere. Sister Esther Ruth Cassimere Thomas was a lifelong member of Mohorn Missionary Baptist Church. She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and was baptized at Mohorn Baptist Church by Reverend Sam A. Crowder. She served as an active member in the following ministries: Sunday School for 34 years, Mission Department and Senior Choir for 45 plus years. She also willingly served as a Vacation Bible School Teacher. Sister Esther Thomas participated in the Seventh District Association and Congress, representing Mohorn Baptist Church as a delegate, and she sung in the Seventh District Chorus for many years.
Esther Thomas married Solomon Thomas Sr. in 1946 and to this union were born five children. She loved her family and wanted nothing but the best for them. She would always say, “You have to get an education,” and she worked hard to push her children through college. With the assistance of Wilkin Jones, Jr., she earned her High School Equivalency Diploma (GED) through the St. Landry Parish School Board Adult Education Program. At age 45, she decided to further her education. In 1977, she completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Kindergarten, Nursery and Mentally Challenged Areas at Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and she graduated on the Dean's List.
Her jobs in life, besides being a devoted mother, were a life-guiding counselor to many young people, an Insurance Agent, and at the Department of Human Resources a case worker. She was an educator at the following schools: Southwest Elementary, Opelousas Junior High, and Opelousas Developmental Center, St. Landry Parish.
Esther Thomas loved baking sweets; pies and cakes were her favorites. Also, she loved cooking. When her children were young and growing up, she was a seamstress and made her daughters and her own clothing. She enjoyed doing arts and crafts, especially ceramic pieces. She was also a lifelong member of the Eastern Star (Queen Esther Chapter #10) and a member of the Starlight Benevolent Society. Esther believed in making her voice heard through voting. She transported people from the community to vote in various elections.
Mourning her passing yet cherishing her memories are her five children: Kermit Earl Thomas, Sr. (Debra) of Opelousas, LA; Solomon Thomas Jr. (Vallie) of Baton Rouge, LA; Grace L. Garnier (Thomas) of Opelousas, LA; Mary L. Frilot (Henry) and Sharon R. Gaudin (Jeffery), both of Houston, TX; fifteen grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren, a play daughter Linda Thomas Sam, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Esther Thomas was preceded in death by her husband, Solomon Thomas, Sr.; parents, Moses and Lelia Batiste Cassimere; siblings, Martha Cassimere Brown, Daniel Cassimere, Dorothy Cassimere Sias, Gladys Cassimere Leday, Joshua Forrest Cassimere, Jessie Rea Cassimere White, and a grandson Moses Dwayne Thomas.
Esther Thomas married Solomon Thomas Sr. in 1946 and to this union were born five children. She loved her family and wanted nothing but the best for them. She would always say, “You have to get an education,” and she worked hard to push her children through college. With the assistance of Wilkin Jones, Jr., she earned her High School Equivalency Diploma (GED) through the St. Landry Parish School Board Adult Education Program. At age 45, she decided to further her education. In 1977, she completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Kindergarten, Nursery and Mentally Challenged Areas at Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and she graduated on the Dean's List.
Her jobs in life, besides being a devoted mother, were a life-guiding counselor to many young people, an Insurance Agent, and at the Department of Human Resources a case worker. She was an educator at the following schools: Southwest Elementary, Opelousas Junior High, and Opelousas Developmental Center, St. Landry Parish.
Esther Thomas loved baking sweets; pies and cakes were her favorites. Also, she loved cooking. When her children were young and growing up, she was a seamstress and made her daughters and her own clothing. She enjoyed doing arts and crafts, especially ceramic pieces. She was also a lifelong member of the Eastern Star (Queen Esther Chapter #10) and a member of the Starlight Benevolent Society. Esther believed in making her voice heard through voting. She transported people from the community to vote in various elections.
Mourning her passing yet cherishing her memories are her five children: Kermit Earl Thomas, Sr. (Debra) of Opelousas, LA; Solomon Thomas Jr. (Vallie) of Baton Rouge, LA; Grace L. Garnier (Thomas) of Opelousas, LA; Mary L. Frilot (Henry) and Sharon R. Gaudin (Jeffery), both of Houston, TX; fifteen grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren, a play daughter Linda Thomas Sam, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Esther Thomas was preceded in death by her husband, Solomon Thomas, Sr.; parents, Moses and Lelia Batiste Cassimere; siblings, Martha Cassimere Brown, Daniel Cassimere, Dorothy Cassimere Sias, Gladys Cassimere Leday, Joshua Forrest Cassimere, Jessie Rea Cassimere White, and a grandson Moses Dwayne Thomas.