Lent Ervin Thomas

Lent Ervin (Sonny) Thomas, Jr, died Tuesday, August 2, 2022, at Panola Medical Center in Batesville, MS from a brief illness. He was ninety-two.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 4, 2022, at the First United Methodist Church at 12 PM with visitation beginning at 10:00 AM prior to the service. A private family interment will be at Batesville Magnolia Cemetery.

Lent was born August 3, 1929, in Memphis, TN to the late Lent E. and Gladys Bryant Thomas.

In addition to his parents, Lent was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Ruth Mobley, his sons, William Jackson Thomas and Monty Mobley Thomas, and sisters, Lucille Thomas Goree Monk and Inez Thomas Warren all of Batesville. He leaves his wife of fifty-four years, Linda Ford Thomas, his daughters Maribeth Thomas Haire (Billy) of Batesville, Carolee Thomas of Memphis, and sons Lent (Tripp) Thomas, III (Beth), James (Jim) Thomas (Amy), and John Ford Thomas (Amy) all of Batesville. In addition to his children, Lent leaves behind fourteen grandchildren, twenty-nine great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

After graduation from Batesville High School, he graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in agriculture and served in the US Army at Fort Knox, KY. After discharge, Lent returned to Panola County where he farmed for over sixty years. For many years, he served on both the South and West Panola school boards and on the Panola County Farm Bureau board. Lent was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Batesville where he served in various capacities.

Anyone wishing to send memorials, they may be made to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 797, Batesville, MS 38606 or North Delta School, 330 Green Wave Lane, Batesville, MS 38606.