Norma Pearl Parks Thomas

View Video Tribute  View Funeral Webcast Norma Pearl Parks Thomas, 94, lifelong resident of Maury County, died Saturday December 21, 2019 at her residence. A celebration of life will be conducted Friday at 2:00 P.M. at First United Methodist Church with Reverend Stacy Gonzales, Reverend Melinda Britt, Houston Parks, and Dr. Rosemary Thomas Williams officiating. The family will visit with friends on Friday from 12:00 P.M. – 2:00 P.M. at the church. Memorials can be made to Beth Erwin Scholarship Fund c/o First United Methodist Church, 222 West 7th St, Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born September 21, 1925 in Maury County, she was the daughter of the late Norman Alexander Parks and the late Lura Lovell Parks. In 1938, she was elected Mule Day Queen, and she was one of the first of a long list of ladies to serve as mule royalty. She always considered being the Mule Day Queen her only claim to fame. She was a graduate of Columbia Central High School’s class of 1943 and attended the University of Tennessee and George Peabody College. On December 23, 1944 she married William Locke Thomas, who preceded her in death on February 13, 2002. She was affectionately known by her family and friends as “Nonnie”.  Mrs. Thomas was a member of the Cosmopolitan Club, Ladies Gardening Club, James K. Polk Memorial Association, APTA, and the Rose Society. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church since 1938. For many years, she was a member of the Ayres Whitney Fellowship Class. Mrs. Thomas was an avid gardener, and especially loved growing roses and lilies. She is survived by her daughters, Rosemary (Hunter) Husband of Nashville and Carol Ann “ Kay Kay” (John) Williams of Columbia; son, William Alexander (Neil Ann) Thomas; grandchildren, Dr. Rosemary Thomas Williams of Columbia, Heather Ann (Craig) Buffkin of Nashville, Rebecca Williams (Eric) Hughes of Columbia, Mary Beth (Andrew) Caldwell of Nashville, Carol Parks Williams (John) Carnahan of Columbia, Ann Lindsey Thomas of Birmingham, Mary Locke Thomas (James) Rollins of Tuscaloosa, and Elizabeth Norma Martin Thomas (Davis Maxwell) of Birmingham; great grandchildren, Hooper Johnson, MaryKannon Johnson, Annabelle Carnahan, Linton Hughes, Amelia Carnahan, Eden Carnahan, Hardin Hughes, Bennett Locke Hughes, Lucy Pink Carnahan, Josiah Carnahan all of Columbia, Caroline Buffkin, Charles Buffkin, Frances Buffkin, Emma Caldwell, and Cora Caldwell all of Nashville, Emmaline Rollins, Henry Rollins, Beatty Maxwell, and Frances Locke Maxwell all of Alabama; brother, Robert S. (Julia) Parks; several nieces and nephews; sitters/ angels on Earth, Britny Cooper, Cortney Moore, Tiffannee Creel, Christiana Saum, Shannon Ellis, Dareain Baker, Derriyn Burroughs, Holly Goats, Cecilia Wilcox, Kayla Stewart, and Jennifer Hooker. In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers and sisters-in-law, Joe H. (Cloa) Parks and Jerry R. (Ernestine) Parks. Active pallbearers will be Steve Parks, Jim Parks, Norman Parks, Hooper Johnson, Linton Hughes, Hardin Hughes, Bennett Locke Hughes, and Charles Buffkin. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Shawn Gentry, Dr. Srikar Reddy, and Bob Sweeney.