Life Story

Lillian Smith Thomas (Lil), the oldest child of Peter Smith Sr. and Lucille Gillard Smith, was born on October 4, 1942 in Ridgeville, South Carolina. Lil transitioned to Glory on Wednesday, March 7, 2018.

Lil graduated from Simon Gratz High School and receied an Associate's degree from Philadelphia Community College. She was employed at Joseph Cohen and was a Community Banking Specialist at Fidelity Banking Institution; a school bus driver for Cheltenham Township; and lastly, she was a bus driver for Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) until she became disabled.

She was married to Edmond MacArthur Thomas. This union was blessed with two sons, Michael Earle and Darryl Rodney Thomas.

By God's grace, Lil was a double breast cancer survivor and an inspiration to others who were experiencing the same illness. Lil was a strong-willed but loving individual. She was a devoted and affectionate mother; a caregiver; and a sister who always had a listening ear with a bit of advice. She was an aunt who was always there for her nieces and nephews, and was a loyal friend.

In addition to her parents, Lil was preceded in death by her brother, Oscar Smith and his wife, Alana.

She leaves to cherish her memories: two sons, Michael and Darryl (Patricia); two grandsons, Terrell Tyree Rodney Thomas and Michael Earle Thomas, II; one great-grandson, Michael Earle Thomas, III; two brothers, Peter Jr. (Barbara) and Earle; two sisters, Ethel and Evelyn Georgeann (Steven); one aunt, Evelina Gillard; a host of truly devoted and loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews, cousins and lifelong friends.