Joan Thomas

September 6, 1948 - March 25, 2022

Joan Diann Kilpatrick Thomas, “Ms. Joan,” went home to be with her Jesus on Friday, March 25th, 2022. Joan was born in Boaz, Alabama on September 6, 1948. She started her career working for Southern Bell in 1967, later South Central Bell, Bellsouth, and AT&T which brought her to Birmingham in 1970. She retired in 2004 after 35 years of service. She was always active in her church families as a dedicated volunteer and chaperone to the youth of South Roebuck Baptist Church, and later was a founding member of North Valley Church, where she acted in her hospitality gift as a door greeter. Joan was a proud mother to her daughters, Teri and KB, and doting grandmother to Daizy whom she enjoyed spending time with and spoiling on shopping trips. She was also a loving (and bossy) sister to George, Kathy, and Donna. Joan loved big, lived big, and laughed big...and loud. Her larger-than-life personality and laugh would fill any room she entered with her contagious spirit. Though her daily life was simple, she was extravagant in her love for others. She always looked for ways to bless others, whether it was being there as a caregiver, making a pasta salad or banana bread, or opening her home and heart to those in need. She had a way, a gift, of making everyone feel like family. She loved to play games, especially cards and was a constant at her weekly bridge games. Joan was a self-proclaimed obnoxious Alabama fan and celebrated every touchdown, score, and win with firecrackers. Her adventurous spirit was always ready for a road trip to the beach or casino. She is preceded in death by her father, E.C. Kilpatrick; mother, Lorene Cagle; sister, Kathy Marks; brother-in-law, Dale Fish; nephew, Kody Kilpatrick; niece, Sherrie Lemons; great nephew, Chris St. John; and best friends, Jane Johnson and Lou Loftin. She is survived by daughters, Teri Thomas and Keri Beth “KB” Thomas, granddaughter, Daizy Mae Thomas; brother, George (Carolyn) Kilpatrick; sister, Donna Fish, and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. Joan is also survived by a host of chosen families; Kenny and Misty Johnson and family, Kyle and Aponi Johnson and family, Kathy and Frankie Patton and family, Tim and Ellen Lindsey, chosen granddaughter, Tiffany Lindsey (Corey) Gray, and chosen grandchildren, Kinley Ann, Harper Morgan, Canaan Scott and Finn Thomas Gray. Pallbearers will be Kenny Johnson, Kyle Johnson, Tim Lindsey, Tyler Lawley, Scott Gray, and Corey Gray, and honorary pallbearer, Brian Sims. Visitation will be March 30th from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm and March 31st from 10:00 am-11:00 am with funeral service on Thursday, March 31st at 11:00 am at Deerfoot Memorial Funeral Home. Burial to follow at Union United Methodist Church Cemetery in Boaz, Alabama.