Lesley O'Neal Thomas

Lesley O’Neal Thomas, 85, of Saraland, Alabama. He was born on October 19, 1938, in Jasper, located in Walker County Alabama. He attended Oakman High School, in Oakman, Alabama. In 1956 at the young age of 17, Lesley, (Neal) joined the Alabama National Guard with the written permission of his parents. He continued serving in the Alabama National Guard and attending high school till he graduated from high school in 1958. He later transferred into the Army, active-duty service in 1960. Lesley attended Military Police training and served with the Berlin Brigade 287th Military Police Company, protecting West Berlin during the cold war. He returned home from Germany on the USNS Darby and served out the rest of his service in the Army Reserves till January 1963 in Jasper, Alabama. Lesley moved to Saraland and was hired on at Alabama Power, he worked and retired after 37 years from Barry Steam Plant. He was survived by 2 sisters, Jane Clayton of Birmingham, Alabama. Marsha King of Jasper, Alabama; 1 daughter, Donna P. Thomas of Mobile, Alabama. 2 sons, Derek Thomas of Pittsboro, NC. Blain Thomas of Bradenton, Florida, and granddaughter Parker Thomas of Bradenton, Florida, and many friends and neighbors who loved him. He will be deeply missed. He was preceded in death by his father Liston Thomas, and his mother Earline Thomas both from Jasper, Alabama. He grew up farming till later when his father went to work in the coal mines. Lesley has done it all, from picking cotton with his family on the family farm, stood guard on the Berlin Wall, and traveled Europe. During the years he worked at Barry Steam Plant in Bucks, he would spend as much time as he could in Big and Little Chippewa Lake in the Mobile Tensaw Delta. Lesley has shrimped the bay, deep sea fished, hunted the delta, at 83 years old, he harvested a two-hundred-pound 8pt buck from the Upper Delta land, and carried it out by himself. Lesley worked hard in his garden. He Loved the Lord and was very generous, always sharing the bounty the Lord gave him with his family, friends and neighbors. He will be laid to rest; March 19, 2024 Visitation: 10am to 11am. Chapel Service: 11am. Serenity Funeral Home 8691 Old Pascagoula Rd. Theodore, AL. 36582

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Lesley O'Neal Thomas

October 19, 1938 - March 15, 2024