Thomas Minnis

PORTAGEVILLE - Thomas M. Minnis, 86, died Jan. 30, 2003, at the Portageville Nursing Center.

Born Aug. 9, 1916, in Nettleton, Miss., son of the late Lewis and Carrie Minnis, he worked for Federal Compress for 44 years before retiring.

On Sept. 16, 1950, in Portageville, he married Georgia Mae Steele who preceded him in death on Feb. 16, 1977.

He was also preceded in death by one son, Movina Minnis; two brothers, Clifton Minnis Sr. and Rufus Minnis; and one sister, Madline Minnis.

Survivors include: five sons, Harvey Collier of Champaign, Ill., Thomas Minnis Jr. of Hillsboro, Ore., Ronnie Minnis of Long Beach, Calif., Doyle Minnis of Portland, Ore., and Eugene Minnis of Davenport, Iowa; seven daughters, Deloris Holloman, Debra Norris, Carla Minnis and Barbara Minnis of Portageville, Claudette Gipson of Virginia Beach, Connie Long of Marston and Valrie Drake of Gallatin, Tenn.; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Services were conducted Wednesday at the Temple of God's Glory Church in Portageville. Elder O.C. Cooper will officiate.

Burial followed in the Portageville Cemetery.

Pallbearers were: Thomas Minnis Jr., Ronnie Minnis, Eddie Long Jr., Richard Wigfall, Jed Wilderness and Roderick Brown.

Honorary pallbearers were: Harvey Collier, Doyle Minnis and Elijah Holloman.

DeLisle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.