Janie Thomas

Funeral services will be held for Janie Mitchell Thomas, age 95, at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 29, 2023, at First Baptist Church of Gibsland with Bro. Orvell Bryant officiating. Burial will follow at Gibsland Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Gibsland, in the Fellowship Hall.

Janie was born on March 6, 1928, in Homer, Louisiana to Thomas and Exa Gandy Mitchell. She passed away on Monday, June 26, 2023, at her home in Gibsland, Louisiana, with her loving family by her side. Janie met her husband R.P. in Gibsland at her brother and sister-in-law’s hardware store. It was love at first sight. Janie had been a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Gibsland since 1947. Janie had a servant heart. She enjoyed being able to take care of others and was far more concerned with other’s well-being than her own. Janie never raised her voice or said an unkind word. She tried once to cheat at a card game and gave herself away. She loved to travel, and was blessed to travel domestically and abroad, going to Israel three times with Mike Huckabee and his family, whom she loved. Janie was an avid birdwatcher, and loved working in her garden with her flowers, as long as she was able to. She was a fantastic cook. She had a hot breakfast ready every morning for R.P., and dinner every evening. She was still downloading and trying new recipes well into her eighties. Her greatest joy in life were her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Janie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, who will be greatly missed by all that knew her.

Janie is preceded in death by her husband Robert P. (R.P.) Thomas, Sr., daughter Mary Nell Thomas Duncan, and by brother Thomas M. Mitchell, Jr. and wife Mary Abney.

She is survived by her loving children; Robert P. Thomas, Jr. of Gibsland, LA, and Susan Thomas Williams of Gibsland, LA, grandchildren; Ted Duncan of Houston, TX, Tim Duncan and wife DruEllen of Pearland, TX, Todd Duncan of Houston, TX, Oliver Williams and wife Aubrey of Gibsland, LA, and Sterling Williams and wife Jessica of Choudrant, LA, great grandchildren; Will Duncan and wife Emma, Robert Duncan, Mari Nell Duncan, Lily Duncan, Jordan Duncan, Cullen Williams, Trip Williams, Greyson Williams, Levi Williams, and Elliotte Williams, and by numerous other nieces, nephews, and other loving family and friends.

Honoring Janie as pallbearers will be Oliver Williams, Sterling Williams, Tim Duncan, Scott Kidd, Tommy Youngblood, and Billy New. Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Fields, Tom Martin, Ty Pendergrass, Clint Frye, David Ogwyn, and Willis Carter.