CHARLOTTE

Mary Josephine "Josie" Burns Thomas, 60, died Jan. 3 at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

Funeral services were held at New Grove Baptist Church in Marshville Jan. 8 at 3 p.m. with pastor rodney J. Evans officiating. Interment followed at Greater Grace Community Baptist Church cemetery in Marshville.

She was born Aug. 27, 1948 in Anson county to the late Sampson and Alene Burns.

She joined Philadelphia Holiness Church of Peachland and later in life joined Greater Grace Community Baptist Church in Marshville. She was a faithful member of the choir.

She worked for many years at Holly Farms and Barth T. Dreyfuss of Monroe. She attended the Anson county schools.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was kind, loving and outgoing.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Lewis Thomas; brother, Larry Burns; and sister, Rebecca Morrow.

She is survived by her four daughters, Phyllis (David) Blount, Lois (Roger) Ponds, Minister Sonya (Rodney) Huntley, all of Marshville and Shenita (Michael) Allen of Peachland; one son, Metro (Sherrie) Thomas of Monroe; three brothers, Louis (Mary) Burns, Alonzo Burns of Peachland and David Burns of Charlotte; five sisters, Virginia (Leon) Rushing of Charlotte, Catherine (Lanzy) Hamilton of Peachland, Linda McDonald and Sharon Burns, both of Charlotte and Shelia (Steve) Marble of Marshville; sister-in-law, Vera Burns of Peachland; 27 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

The arrangements are in the care of smith's Funeral Directors.