The Rev. LeRoy Thomas Jr. has faithfully served the Lord all his life, never placing himself above the need to help others.

Even several heart attacks and two strokes couldn't stop the determined Thomas from fulfilling God's will for him. Despite those setbacks, he said the thought of shifting his focus from other people to himself never crossed his mind. He credits his faith in the Lord and the support of family and friends for pulling him through those traumatic times.

Thomas frequently visits fellow Williams Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church members and others in the hospital to lift their spirits with his enthusiastic, charismatic personality.

"I'm a people person," Thomas said. "I try to tell them where I came from and to not let yourself get down." He takes a Bible on each visit for the person to read.

"Many people get ill and don't know where to go," Thomas said.

He is involved in community outreach ministries through Williams Chapel that take him to local nursing homes for visits. There, he also provides recreation to residents and transportation for those who need it -- never asking for reimbursement, said Sarah Monroe, a member of Williams Chapel.

On Friday, Aug. 31, Thomas will be honored for his years of selfless service at 6 p.m. in Williams Chapel's garden room. South Carolina State University coaching legend Willie Jeffries will serve as master of ceremonies.

"He's the epitome of servanthood at its best," said the Rev. Caesar Richburg, pastor of Williams Chapel. "He's been an excellent representation of the kingdom of God on Earth. I'm humbled to be his pastor. It brings joy to my heart."

Thomas is also an integral part of the church's soup kitchen. He said the soup kitchen is just one of the things the church can do as part of its ministry.

Richburg said in order to be a good, faithful servant of the Lord, one must not work at their own convenience, but instead must be inconvenienced by that pursuit.

"Reverend Thomas has inconvenienced himself many times over the years," Richburg said.

In the rare moments Thomas is not assisting others, he spends time with family and friends, many of whom are also members of Williams Chapel.

This summer, Thomas and his wife, Gladys, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. The couple has two daughters, Vilencia and Sharon, and two granddaughters, Christina and Delecia.

"She has been my backbone," Thomas said of his wife.

A 1957 graduate of SCSU with a degree in music, Thomas has a great affinity for his alma mater. He played in the band while working toward his degree, playing the bass drum. Because of his diminutive stature, playing the bass drum required that a drum horse march behind him while he reached back to make the strikes.

He is an avid fan of the SCSU Bulldogs football team and takes a charter bus to every away game.

In his spare time, Thomas also joins with a band of friends from church to form the Street Committee -- a group of about 16 men who celebrate each other's birthdays, talk about current events, hang-out and grill steaks.

"No women allowed," Thomas said.

Beside his commitment to God and church, Thomas also has been active in several community organizations through the years, working with the Culinary Advisory Board of the Technology Center, Orangeburg Consolidated School District Five, IBPOE Elks Lodge and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. His service as chaplain of the Orangeburg chapter of the VFW has garnered him three awards.

Thomas, a lifelong resident of Orangeburg, was one of ten children and graduated from Wilkinson High School in 1953. After completing college, he enlisted in the army for two years before becoming a supervisor at Greenwood Mills for the 20 years.

Thomas felt a call to ministry and preached his first trail sermon in 1984. Four years later, he became an ordained minister in the AME Church and served as pastor of Good Hope AME Church in Bowman. Health problems forced him to retire from Good Hope, but he has since continued his life's calling at Williams Chapel.

And Thomas plans don't include slowing down.

"As long as I'm in good health, and the Lord can keep me going, I'll keep helping the people around me," Thomas said.

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T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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