Shirley Thomas

Dr. Shirley Forbes Thomas, age 81, was reunited with many loved ones in Heaven on Saturday, August 1, 2020. Loving family members were by her side. Born June 14, 1939, to Roy and Dora Dee Forbes in Rose Bud, Ark., she was married for 64 years to the love of her life, Rev. Loyd Thomas. She is survived by her husband, Loyd, of the home, and her children, Jeffrey, Lori, Cindy, Melody, Isaac, Stephen, and Megan; sisters, Jean Belknap, Laura Lester (Bobby), and Judy Wildman (Stan); numerous nieces and nephews; and nine grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, two sons—Joshua and Jon Jon—and her granddaughter, Caitlin. Shirley grew up in Rose Bud, Ark. and had a wonderful life growing up in the beautiful country there. As a youngster, she and her three sisters had many friends, one of whom Shirley had known since she was born, a young man named Loyd Thomas. At age 16, Shirley and this childhood best friend eloped to Mississippi. She always claimed she recognized him as her soulmate when she first "saw him through the bars of my crib." She graduated from Rose Bud High School five months later. They began their life together as Loyd followed his calling and entered Bible college and Shirley graduated from UCA, taught at Vilonia High School, and gave birth to two sons. The family moved to Fayetteville in 1967 for her husband to pastor a church. She earned her master's degree from University of Arkansas in 1969 and began teaching at John Brown University in Siloam Springs. She earned a Ph.D. in English Literature from UA in 1988. During her 33 years as a faculty member and administrative leader at John Brown University, she mentored dozens of faculty and changed the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of students. Urging her students to call her "Dr. Mama," she loved, cajoled, counseled, prayed, and encouraged those she taught to lead vibrant lives of service, informed by rigorous thinking and thoughtful action. She fully modeled these values, serving as a pastor's wife, full-time faculty member, poet, author, fundraiser, and parent, with a life-long dedication to education and community service. Everyone recognized her infectious laugh and she taught us all that faith, mixed with humor, can help us overcome and survive life's greatest tragedies. She often advised her loved ones, "when you mess up, go ahead and laugh at yourself because everyone else already is." After their second son, Jon, was born with Down Syndrome, Shirley and Loyd adopted seven additional children. They taught community adoption classes and started a support group called Adoptive Parents and Children Together. Over the years, several other children and adults found a temporary home with the Thomases, such as their dear friends, Ann and Tanya Smoot. There was always an extra bed and an extra seat at the table. Shirley considered herself the mother of pretty much every other person she knew and loved, and several of those remembering her this week considered her a bonus mom, including her former student and business partner, Cheryl Kester. In 1987, Shirley founded the JBU Honors program in the belief that God gives intellectual gifts just as God gives athletic, artistic, and other gifts, and that we should all use our gifts in the service of God and others. Under her leadership, the honors program grew to national prominence and became the model for several other such programs. During her years of leadership on the National Collegiate Honors Council and with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, Dr. Thomas traveled the U.S. and the world consulting on the design of honors semester programs in Oxford, New York City, Crete, Spain, and the Czech Republic. Shirley retired from JBU in 2001 as Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Professor of English. She immediately launched a consulting firm to assist nonprofits and other Christian colleges with pursuing grant funds. Even after she retired again, handing that successful firm off to one of her former students, she continued to mentor new grants professionals and help nonprofits with grants free of charge. In 2019, JBU dedicated the Dr. Shirley Forbes Thomas Honors Library in her honor as part of its centennial celebrations. Visitation will be 1 p.m.- 2 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, 2020, at Moore's Chapel in Fayetteville with Pastor Larry Little officiating the service. Visitation will be 1 p.m.- 2 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m. on Thursday, August 6, 2020, at Friendship Free Will Baptist Church in Rose Bud, Ark. Officiating will be Pastor Michael Morrison. Burial will follow at Crossroads South Cemetery, under the direction of Moore's Chapel in Fayetteville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Westridge Free Will Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Friendship Free Will Baptist Church in Rose Bud, Ark., or one of two scholarship funds in her name at John Brown University—the Dr. Shirley Forbes Thomas Distinguished Professor Endowed Scholarship or the Shirley Forbes Thomas Endowed Honors Scholarship.