Julia Ann Lovell Thomas was born in Jackson, Tennessee, on March 23, 1939, and peacefully departed this life at the age of 83 on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital with loved ones by her side. Her parents were the late William G. and Clydia Terry Lovell. One of eleven siblings, she was raised in Jackson and Three Way, Tennessee.
She lived in Jackson for many years, where she graduated from North Side High School and raised her two children. For several years she worked as an administrator where her children attended school and later started a successful employment agency in Jackson.
In 1987, she married the late George C. Thomas, Jr., of Dresden, Tennessee, where she lived for more than 20 years before relocating back to Jackson. She attended Dresden First United Methodist Church, was active in the community, and loved participating in the local Iris Festival in various capacities. Recently, she attended Northside Methodist Church (now Northside Church) in Jackson. Julia and George were avid golfers and often combined their love of travel with their love of golf and played on beautiful courses while traveling with friends.
Julia was always generous and loved giving unique gifts and enjoyed shopping for them. She often watched the televised shopping networks and did her part to help them become the household staples they are today! She had a tender heart and was always finding ways to give help to those in need and supported many local charities.
Julia is survived by her children, Sherry Motley of Mercer, Tennessee, and Gregory Smith (Janet) of Alpharetta, Georgia; brother, Terry Lovell; sisters, Elnora Graves, Maxine Wallis, and Billie O’Neal; and grandchildren, Katelyn and Kevin Smith and Matthew Thomas.
Other than her husband and parents, Julia was preceded in death by six siblings.
SERVICE: A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Arrington Funeral Directors. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online a stjude.org, or to Regional Inter-Faith Association (RIFA), 133 Airways Blvd., Jackson, TN 38301 or online at rifajackson.org.
Arrington Funeral Directors 148 W. University Pkwy Jackson, TN 38305
731.668.1111 arringtonfuneralgroup.com