Obituaries

Today we join to celebrate the life and everlasting legacy of Beverly Jane Thomas. She was born on November 21, 1944 to the union of Maceo and Pearl Cunningham in Highland Park, MI and raised in Detroit, MI. She was the first born (as she would proudly let everyone know) 0f 6 siblings; Deborah, Levelle, Larry, Jerry (deceased), Cecelia, and Douglas Cunningham. She was formally educated in the Detroit Public School district and was baptized at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She subsequently continued her spiritual education at St. Theresa Catholic Church. During her formative years, she held many service jobs and spent much of her leisure time having fun with family and friends. Anyone that knows Beverly knows that she enjoyed a good party with loved ones. So it should come as no surprise that it was at one of these particular parties where she met a charming man, Bernie Jacobs, that she would go on to have 7 children with: Antoinette, Antonio (deceased), Bernie, Mark, Maceo, Yolanda, and Anthony Carroll. Along the way she also gained two step-children, Jon and Christopher Warren (deceased). Many years later, she reconnected with a past boyfriend, Frank Harold Thomas, whom she would go on to marry. Their love for family led them to foster many children and eventually adopt 4 children: Jerimiah, Emmanuel, Jasmine, and Mariah. After Harold unexpected passing, Beverly was approached by a social worker to adopt two siblings. With open arms, Beverly adopted Angela and Anthony. While Beverly held many titles (i.e., friend, sister, daughter, aunt, etc.), the most important and fulfilling position she held was being a “mother.” She would use any conversation, whether in the grocery store, on Facebook, or at any event, to talk about all of her children. Although she occasionally referred to her lineup of “12,” by number, anyone who knows her knows that she was a mother figure to many more. From her open house parties with constant music playing and dancing, to her infamous “Tang” in the blue container, to being the Queen of Ironing and having her nails, hair, and eyelashes done, her unconditional love is the root of a beautiful ever growing family tree. She is survived by her 14 grandchildren: Michael, Marisa, Marcus (Antoinette’s children); Rianna and Bernie (Bernie’s children); Mark, Melissa, Maliah, and Mikaela (Mark’s children); Aziyah and Chase (Yolanda’s children); Anthony and Layla (Anthony’s children); Jayci (Mariah’s daughter); and a host of many other loved ones. On January 15, 2022, a precious gift we borrowed of this Earth, received her call home. A sort of call you can’t refuse that comes with a signing bonus and a reunion of family and friends she has not seen in a long time. We will miss her dearly but her service here is done (well done). She has laid the blueprint and it is up to all of us to continue perfecting it. We ask that in honor of Beverly, you take the time to check-in on loved ones and approach every day with her same unconditional devotion.