Guyton, GA - Pastor Charles Johnson Thomas ("Pastor T."), age 81, of Marlow, Georgia passed away at home on Christmas Eve, Friday, December 24, 2021 from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) under the care of Hospice Savannah, Inc.

Pastor Thomas was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of the late Walter M. and Mary Johnson Thomas.  He graduated from North Fulton High School, Atlanta in 1959; graduated magna cum laude from Florida Southern College, Lakeland in 1963; and began attending seminary in the fall of 1963.  He served his internship at First Lutheran Church, Fort Lauderdale, FL from 1965-1966.  He received a Masters of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, SC in 1967.  He was ordained at Peachtree Road Lutheran Church, Atlanta on June 4, 1967.  He then served as Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Laurel, MS from 1967—1974.  Pastor Thomas was called to Zion Lutheran Church, Guyton, GA in January 1974 where he served for 25 years until his retirement in June 1999.  He was the longest serving pastor at Zion.

During his 32 years of ministry in the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Pastor Thomas served as Alabama-Mississippi District Secretary; Chairperson of the Synod Convention Reference and Counsel Committee; member of the Synod Education Committee; Ebenezer Area Dean; President of Chatham-Effingham Lutheran Pastor's Association; and advisor to the Ebenezer Area Lutheran Youth Organization.

Pastor Thomas was also involved in the following activities in the Effingham community: Secretary-Treasurer, Vice-President, and President of Effingham County Ministerial Association; Effingham County Historical Society; Manna House board member; Marlow Farm Bureau; and Thrivent board member.

In his retirement years, Pastor Thomas enjoyed being volunteer organist at Zion; singing in the church choir; teaching Sunday School; and being an active leader in Zion's Senior Citizens Community Group.

Pastor Thomas is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Lou Williams Thomas; son John Walter Thomas (Jana), Atlanta; daughter Laura Kay T. Rumfelt (Eric), Newberry, SC; and grandchildren William Thomas Rumfelt, Mattie Rumfelt, Elijah Thomas, and Micah Thomas.

Visitation will be held Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 2 pm at Zion Lutheran Church with the service following at 3 pm.  Burial will be in Zion's cemetery.  The service will be live-streamed on Zion's Facebook page.  (Zion Lutheran Church ELCA)

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be given to Zion Lutheran Church, 121 Noel C. Conaway Road, Guyton, GA 31312 to support the Online Worship Ministry.

The family asks you to please wear a mask to help protect yourself and others.

Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home, Effingham Chapel. 912-754-6421