Jeff Davis Thomas, Jr.

Jeff D. (J.D.) Thomas, Jr., 90, of Savannah, Georgia, formerly of Hampton, South Carolina, died peacefully Friday, May 10, 2019 at Memorial Medical Center in Savannah surrounded by his family.  He was the son of Jeff D. and Nina Dyar Thomas, Sr.

Jeff and his wife of 63 years, Betty, have three children:  Fair and Robert Ariail, Michael and Veronica Thomas, and Jeff David and Gena Thomas.  There are 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

After high school, Jeff entered the military service for 23 years.  He spent 11 of those years in foreign countries such as Italy, Triestee, Germany, Japan and Korea. His main position was Intelligence Specialist but he was also an Advisor to Reserve and National Guard Units in South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Pennsylvania including  a Reserve Unit commanded by J. Strom Thurmond, whom he got to know quite well.

While serving in the military, Jeff received many awards and ribbons which he never talked about.  However, one award he received from the German Government was "Kavalier Der Strasse", "Knight of the Highway", which he was very proud of.

After retiring from the service, he was employed by Westinghouse in the Sales Department for 6 years.  He then purchased a Seed, Feed, and Hardware business and later a Manufactured Home Sales Center.  He often talked about the people who would come by the business just to chat.

Jeff was very active in the community, belonging to The Rotary Club (President 1980 – 1981), the Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Hampton Election Committee and of course, the Coffee Shop.  He was also very active in Masonic work.  His home Lodge was "Nippon Lodge No. 9 Sasebo, Japan".  He also charted a Lodge in Kyoto, Japan, "Kyoto Masonic Lodge No. 5".

He was very active in school activities, being President of the Band Booster Club and drove the bus for the band for several years.

Jeff and Betty were very active in many churches as they traveled during his military years.  The first thing they would do when moving to a new place was find a Southern Baptist Church to attend.  They were members of Hampton First Baptist church from 1967 to 2000 where he taught Sunday School for over 11 years, was a member of many church committees, sang in the choir, as well as being Deacon Chairman.

They later joined Varnville First Baptist Church where Jeff was a member of the Railroad Sunday School Class, a great group of men that loved and cared for their church members and the community.

They loved to travel, taking many cruises and traveling through the U.S. and Canada in their motor coach, always attending church on Sunday.  Jeff loved the Lord and testified that God had been good to them.  He had seen them through many hard times as well as good times.  The friends that were made over the years were the greatest blessings of all.  He will be missed by his family and friends.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, May 14, at 6 PM at the Skidaway Island Baptist Church, 2 Westridge Road, Savannah, Georgia, conducted by Rev. John Crunkleton.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 15th at 3 PM at the Varnville First Baptist Church, 193 East Palmetto Avenue, Varnville, South Carolina with burial to follow at the Hampton Cemetery, conducted by Rev. Dr. Tommy Kelly with Military Honors provided by the U.S. Army.

Visitation will begin Wednesday at 1:30 PM at the Church prior to services.  Peeples-Rhoden Funeral Home in Hampton, South Carolina is assisting the family with arrangements.