James Steven Mr. Thomas

PEACHLAND - Mr. James Steven Thomas, 71, died Thursday, May 10, 2012 at Hospice of Union County in Monroe. Funeral services will be 4:00pm Sunday, May 13, 2012 at Rocky River Baptist Church in Polkton with Rev. Dennis Stegall officiating. Interment will follow in Fountain Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery in Peachland. The family will greet friends Sunday beginning at 3:00pm in the church fellowship hall prior to the service. Steve was born January 21, 1941 in Anson County, NC a son of the late Joseph Clifford and Maude Elizabeth Williams Thomas. He had worked for 22 years in financing having worked for both GMAC and BB&T and later retired from the North Carolina Department of Corrections. He was a self-taught artist, guitar player, an avid fisherman and private pilot. He was a veteran of the United States Army and served for 10 years in the North Carolina National Guard. Surviving are his daughter and son-in-law, Crystal Thomas Metz and Clark Metz of Charlotte; his grandchildren, Will and Charlotte Metz; his brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Ella Thomas of Polkton; his former wife, Rebecca Beachum Bullard of Charlotte and his canine companion, Curly Bill. Also surviving are his nieces and nephew, Billie Ann Thomas, Amy Turner, Cathy Hooks, Carole Barnhill and Frank Curran all of Polkton, Suzette Whitley and Sherri Teeter both of Oakboro and Sandy McLeod of Wadesboro. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother and sister, Cecil Thomas and Margaret Curran. Memorials may be made to Fountain Hill Cemetery Fund, % Mrs. Sarah Thomas, 2356 Cappadocia Church Rd., Peachland, NC 28133. The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.leavittfuneralhomewadesboro.com Directions to Rocky River Baptist Church, 297 Rocky River Church Road, Polkton, NC 28135 (from Charlotte, NC) HWY 74 East to Albemarle Road, turn left onto Albemarle Road, turn right onto Wilgrove-Mint Hill Rd, road name changes into HWY 218, 20 miles, turn left on Burnsville Olive Branch Road, 4.3 miles to crossroads in Burnsville Community, continue straight onto Wightman Church Road, travel 2.3 miles, turn right on Cribbs Creek Road, travel .5 miles, turn left on Rocky River Church Road, travel .6 miles church will be on right. Directions to Rocky River Baptist Church from Wadesboro Hwy 742N out of Wadesboro, travel approximately 10 miles, turn right on Cedar Grove Church Road, to second intersection, approximately 3 miles, turn left onto Rocky River Church Road, church is on the left.