CELEBRATION OF LIFE MR. BISMARCK “BROTHER” THOMAS, JR.
On February 27, 1920, the second bundle of joy was delivered to the parentage of Bismarck Thomas, Sr. and Allie Lucy Foster Thomas. They named him Bismarck Thomas, Jr. “Brother” as he was affectionately called, grew up on the hill in the city of Kaufman, Texas.
From the start, he was drug to church by his mother and was baptized at an early age at the Bold Pilgrim Baptist Church. Later in life serving as a Deacon at Bold Pilgrim.
Bismarck attended colored public school in Kaufman and graduated from Burnett High School, Terrell, Texas in 1937. After graduating from high school Bismarck attended Jarvis Christian College, Hawkins, Texas, he often would tell of hitchhiking to Jarvis from Kaufman. After graduation from Jarvis in 1941, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Europe where he served in 3rd Army under General George S. Patton as a quartermaster. After being discharged from the Army he returned home to Kaufman and attended Southwest School of Mortuary Science in Dallas, Texas and started running the family business, Thomas & Sons Funeral Home which his mother started in 1935. In 1956, Bismarck bought into the J.L. Brooks Funeral Home, Terrell, Texas eventually becoming the Brook- Thomas Mortuary in 1971. Bismarck was licensed as a barber in 1954.
On September 16, 1952 in Berkeley, California, Bismarck married Mary Louise Greenwood. This couple became unstoppable constantly seeking to help those they encountered in Kaufman County. Pushing those in the African-American community to excel and succeed. During the 1950’s and early 1960’s Bismarck taught in the post World War II GI School in Kaufman, The Kemp Colored School and Burnett High School, Terrell Texas.
Bismarck had many accomplishments during his 94 years on this earth. He was elected twice as president of the Independent Funeral Directors Association of Texas. Executive Secretary of the IFDA of Texas for 20 years. Governor District IV National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association. In 1981, he was chosen Man of the Decade, IFDA of Texas, and in 1982 Man of the Year for the same organization. In 2000, he was awarded a proclamation from the Mayor of Kaufman honoring him with “Lifetime Achievement.” His proudest moment was being elected to the “Pioneer Hall of Fame” at Jarvis Christian College, his Alma matter that he loved and supported financially, he truly believed to whom much is given, and much is required.
The union of Bismarck and Mary produced two sons, both worked in the family business. Life has up moments, it’s down moments, and those who have gone on before him were his mother and father, his only sibling Edgar Allen Thomas, and his oldest son Bismarck Thomas, III.
He leaves to Celebrate his life; His wife of 61 years Mary Louise Greenwood Thomas; one son, Von Carl (Sylvia); Five grand daughters, Summer, Devona, Brittany, Tyjah, and Lakeandra; Two Grand-sons, Con Carl, Jr. (Tonya), and Manson; Four great grand children, Kaiser,Alicia, Saige, and Michael, a small host of relatives and a multitude of friends.
