Obituary of Zachary-Dewayne Thomas

Celebration of Life service for Mr. Zachary DeWayne Thomas will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 24, 2010, at Antioch Baptist Church. The Rev. Larry G. Weathers, officiant, with burial in Lincoln Hills Cemetery. Visitation this evening from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Gadsden Memorial Funeral Home. Zachary graduated from Litchfield High School in 1997 in Gadsden and attended Jacksonville State University, where he played football. He continued his education at Nevada Community College.Because of his love for sports and coaching, he became a defensive coach for the Northeast Bengals Semi-Professional Football Team.He departed this life on Saturday, July 17, 2010, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham.Zachary is survived by his mother, Henrietta Thomas Gill, and his father, Jerome Thomas, both of Gadsden; three brothers, Marlon (Di'Gay) Timmons, Huntsville, JerMarle Thomas, Las Vegas, and Anthony Thomas, Gadsden; four sisters, Tiffany (Tony) Green, Gadsden, Tameka (Michael) Tart, Clarksville, Ga., Lajhonna Thomas, Jacksonville, and Jahlia Thomas, Huntsville; two grandmothers, Dorothy (late Henry) Turner and Roberta (late Willie D.) Thomas, both of Gadsden; six aunts, Doris J. Leach, Patricia (Roderick) Ferguson and Marnita Williams, all of Gadsden, Patricia Thomas, Birmingham, Renee Thomas, Huntsville, and Rickie Jean Penn, Atlanta; two uncles, Willie D. Thomas Jr. and Wayne Thomas, both of Gadsden; 14 nieces and nephews; a host of other cousins, family and friends; and special family, the Rev. Clarence (Phyllis) Wilson and family.