VERA MAE THOMAS

Vera was born on January 15, 1944, to Elaine Estelle Wright and
Hucless Bernard Thomas in the small town of Hobson, Virginia.
Growing up on a farm, Vera spent many days working alongside
her father and grandfather in the fields. Many would say it was
Vera’s strong work ethic that found her riding in the back of the
family truck going from farm to farm selling goods, but it was
also her love of clothes shopping that fueled her work and
labor! Vera developed a love of reading at an early age and
would spend time cuddling up reading books and napping. On
the farm Vera also developed her love for gardening, cooking
and most, importantly pigs! Vera had a God-given gift for music
and singing and it was apparent at an early age that she would
brighten lives through her singing. As a teen she and her
cousins formed a singing group where they traveled to many
churches to share their praise for the Lord through their song.
Vera Mae Thomas was such an amazing woman, who was loved
by many. Those that had the opportunity to come in contact
with her were blessed to receive the gift of her loving, caring
and kind spirit. She had the ability to make you laugh with her
unmatched sense of humor. And if you were really lucky you
had a chance to taste her Holiday Peanut Brittle and Fruitcake,
which she religiously made every year for her family and
friends. Vera touched the lives of so many—her family, her
friends, her community and most especially the children and
school communities of the South Bay Union School District.

Vera’s love for teaching and education led her to want to
become an elementary school teacher. After her graduation
from East Suffolk High School in 1963, Vera attended Norfolk
State University and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree
in Education. Vera thrived at Norfolk State University. Her
beautiful and energetic spirit brought her much recognition.
She was not only named Miss Norfolk State of 1967, but also
Miss Persian Rifles and Homecoming Queen. NSU was also
where Vera developed a life-long love and dedication to her
sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.
Vera came to San Diego County in late 1967 and soon
established herself to begin a career in education. Vera fulfilled
her dream of touching the lives of children and inspiring a love
of learning through her work in the South Bay Union School
District. She served the district as a classroom teacher and a
Reading Specialist for many years. Having the desire to reach
more students and to positively touch school communities,
Vera worked to earn a Master of Arts Degree in Education
from Pepperdine University in 1977 which led to her becoming
an assistant principal, a school principal, and later a district
administrator. Vera retired in 2004 after a long and fulfilling
career in education and after touching the lives of thousands
within the school communities she served.
Vera shared her love of singing and her beautiful voice with all
those in her schools and she became known as the “the singing
principal” and brought joy to many. Her schools also enjoyed

her love of pigs through her extensive collection of pigs that
decorated her office.
Living in Bonita, California for many years and raising her
children there, Vera was a devout member of the Bayview
Baptist Church of San Diego. She served as a member of the
church choir and was involved in many other activities as well.
Vera loved entertaining and hosting friends and family in her
home. She was always the one to send Christmas cards out
before anyone else and made sure to keep us up to date with
the happenings in her life, something she was very proud of!

In 2006, Vera decided to leave California and moved to
McDonough, Georgia. Vera established herself there in
McDonough and volunteered and sang in the choirs of several
churches. She continued to touch the lives of school children
and school communities by volunteering and substitute
teaching at a variety of schools in the Henry County School
District. In her retirement, Vera took care of her home and
continued to enjoy gardening, cooking, and entertaining. Vera
also enjoyed traveling and visited many places such as Hong
Kong, Singapore, Germany, Costa Rica with her IOTA NU Sisters
and Mexico. As her health declined, Vera’s son, William L.
Walton Jr., joined her in McDonough in 2016.

In 2022, Vera decided to return to California with her son to
resettle in San Diego County. Her plan to re-establish herself in
San Diego was placed on hold as her health deteriorated. Vera
was called home by the Lord Jesus Christ on the morning of
November 29, 2022.
Vera is survived by her daughter, Sonja Walton-Bingham and
her son, William L Walton, Jr. She is also survived by her three
grandchildren, Christian Charles Bingham, Jordan Thomas
Bingham and Verlyn Yvette Bingham, as well as her siblings
Hucless Bernard Thomas Jr. (Melinda) of Hopson, Virginia;
Vernell Mitchell (Randolph) of Suffolk, Virginia; Estelle White
(Wallace) of Decatur, Georgia and Earl Thomas (Yvonne) of
Churchland, VA. Vera also leaves behind a host of family
members and dear friends that she made and whose lives she
touched in her beautiful life.

Some glad morning when this life is over
I'll fly away
To a home on God's celestial shore
I'll fly away
I'll fly away, oh, Glory
I'll fly away
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by
I'll fly away
Just a few more weary days and then
I'll fly away
To a land where joy shall never end
I'll fly away

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