Pastor Gwendoyn C. Thomas

Pastor Gwendolyn “Gwen” Thomas attended Word of Grace New Covenant Ministries for more than 15 years and served faithfully as an Elder Servant for over eight years. She was widely known as a prayer warrior, intercessor, and bold proclaimer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, serving with conviction, humility, and unwavering faith. Gwendolyn Coreene Thomas was born at midnight to Ernestine Grice (Hall) and Eugene Mitchell on August 22, 1958, and transitioned from this life on January 7, 2026. From the very beginning, Gwen was a true designer’s original, shaping everything she touched with her vision, her style, and the joy she brought to her family, church, and community. For more than 34 years, Gwen served military veterans as an Admissions Officer at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland, under the New Jersey Department of Military Affairs and the New Jersey Department of Veterans Affairs. She also served as President and Shop Steward of the CWA Local 1040 Union, where she was a steadfast advocate and trusted voice for workers, courageously standing up for fairness, dignity, and the rights of others. Family was central to Gwen’s life. She loved her family deeply and was an amazing mother, grandmother, sister, niece, aunt, cousin, godmother, and friend. Her warmth, guidance, and joyful spirit left an enduring impact on everyone she touched. She was a constant source of love, encouragement, and inspiration. Serving as secretary to the Mincey-Holloway Family Reunion, she embodied the core values of unity via strengthening family bonds, preserving legacy, and fostering meaningful connections across generations. Gwen believed deeply in family—not only her biological family, but also the family she created wherever she went. Many admired her special way of touching hearts, making people smile, and helping others feel seen, welcomed, and loved. During her leisure time, Gwen enjoyed traveling, creating adventures, and spending quality time with her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed music, with Gospel being her favorite, as she often served as minister of worship to her church. From her early years in modern dance to her competitive years dancing the “Latin Hustle” with her husband, James Brent Thomas Sr., and later sharing the joy of “dancing is life” motto, Gwen expressed herself with her whole heart. As an entrepreneur, she worked alongside her husband to establish an evening wear clothing business. That same entrepreneurial drive is evident in her children and in her grandsons. Gwen was also successful as a model and gymnast, experiences that shaped her confidence, discipline, and grace—qualities she carried throughout her life and reflected in her love for butterflies, which she admired and often wore as symbols of beauty and transformation. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Brent Thomas, Sr., a proud United States Air Force veteran; her parents, Eugene Mitchell, Sr. and Ernestine Grice (Hall); her siblings, Bruce Jones, husband of Apostle Margaret Denise Jones, and Karen Powell; as well as her brother-in-law, Brian R.Thomas. Gwen is survived by her daughter, Takeena LaShawn Deas (Thomas), wife of Joseph Deas; her son, James Brent Thomas, Jr., fiancé of Anita Johnson; and her grandsons, Zaelan Joseph Deas and Zavion Keenan Deas. She is also survived by her brothers Eugene “Dune” Mitchell, Jr. and Brian Jones; her brothers, Earnest Hall, husband of Catina Hall, and Barry Jones, husband of Jinhee Jones; her sister Kimberly Jones Buckle; her sisters-in-law, Theresa Murphy, Carolyn Johnson, Lisa Williams; and a host of extended family, church family, god-sons, god-daughters, and other loved ones. Pastor Gwen Thomas will be remembered as a virtuous woman—a Proverbs 31 woman. She is deeply loved and honored for the life she lived.

Pastor Gwendoyn C. Thomas

August 22, 1958 - January 7, 2026