Bobbie Nell Thomas

Bobbie Nell Thomas, 93, passed away on December 28, 2025, in Birmingham, AL. She was born August 30, 1932, in Jefferson County, AL. After growing up as the daughter of a blacksmith in a large family in a rural, agricultural part of that County, Bobbie and her husband James, a career serviceman in the U.S. Air Force, raised a large family of their own. During the early years of their marriage, they and their growing family lived at myriad foreign and domestic military bases to which he was posted. In this period and the decades following James’ retirement from the Air Force, Bobbie was the guiding force and steadying influence that kept their large family together. After James’ retirement from the military, he and Bobbie settled in Jefferson County and lived there throughout the remainder of their lives. In her mid-life Bobbie discovered the LDS faith and thereafter centered her life on it. She daily lived its teachings, regularly attended services, fully participated in Relief Society work, studied and taught LDS doctrine at her Church, and steadfastly practiced the LDS faith in all ways. Bobbie was the matriarch of the Thomas family. She always will be revered by her children as a loving and caring mother. They and her extended family also will remember her empathy for others, patience, remarkably cheerful and kind nature, selflessness, dry sense of humor, keen interest in learning and reading, deep religious faith, not complaining even in trying times, strong and independent character, extraordinary decorated cakes she baked for them on special occasions, love for holiday and other family gatherings at her home, and sewing special outfits required for her daughters’ extracurricular school activities. Bobbie positively touched and made a lasting impact on everyone she met and will be greatly missed by her worldly and Church families. Her legacy of love, kindness, and faith will continue to inspire all who were blessed to know her. Bobbie was preceded in death by her father, Curby B. Crauswell; mother, Viola Creel Crauswell; husband, James Earnie Thomas; five of her eight children: daughters, Renona Stine, Rhona Baginski and Quana Beavers; and sons, Keith and Sparky Thomas; and all seventeen of her siblings and step siblings. She is survived by her daughter, Marla Shropshire; sons, James Earnie Thomas, Jr. “Jimmy”, and Marcus Thomas; grandchildren, Christopher and Justin Yarbrough, Greg and Kendal Stine, Jennifer Shropshire and Drew Mahan, Jarrod, Adam and Thomas Beavers, Christopher and Melanie Thomas, and Lee Nehring-Thomas; five great grandchildren, sons-in-law, Steve Stine and Toby Baginski; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will begin on Friday, January 2, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 1337 Springville Road, Birmingham, AL, 35215. Her funeral service will immediately follow the visitation at the Church; this service will commence at approximately 12:00 p.m., with subsequent burial at Forest Crest Cemetery, 5730 US Hiway 78, Birmingham, AL 35210 and a meal at the Church for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Bobbie’s memory to the Lovelady Center, 7916 2nd Ave. South, Birmingham, AL 35206, or a charity of your choice.