Betty Mullins Thomas

December 09, 2025

Betty Mullins Thomas at the age of 84, from
Locust Fork, entered
her heavenly home sur-
rounded by family and
love on Sept. 25, 2025.
Born and raised in
Armstead, Betty gradu-
ated from Locust Fork
High School before
marrying her beloved
husband, James Thom-
as, also of Locust Fork.
Together, they began
their life as a military
family, moving to Maryland and later to Ger-
many while James served in the United States
Army. After returning home, Betty devoted her
life to teaching and serving others.
In 1967, “Mrs. Betty” began teaching kin-
dergarten downstairs in her home in Spunky
Hollow. Each year, she welcomed classes of
sweet students, often driving them to and from
school for an extra 25 or 50 cents a week. After
teaching in her home, she moved her class-
room to a location in Locust Fork and later to
her home on Deaver Walker Road. Eventu-
ally, she was invited to start a preschool and
kindergarten program at Locust Fork Baptist
Church, where she faithfully served until her
retirement in 1998.
Throughout her teaching career, Betty
touched countless lives—sharing not only
knowledge, but also the love of Jesus with
every child and family she met. Her influence
continues to live on in the hearts of her former
students and the generations that followed.
After retirement, Betty joyfully devoted her
time to keeping her grandchildren and serving
her family and community with a servant’s
heart. She was the “glue” that held the Thomas
and Mullins families together — loving un-
conditionally and living as a perfect Christian
example of a wife, mother, grandmother, sister,
and friend.
Betty was preceded in death by her hus-
band, James Thomas. Her father Ross Mullins;
her mother Lula Mullins; sisters Laura Ste-
phenson and Bertha Cornelius; her brothers
Jerry and Paul Mullins. She is survived by her
children, Darron Thomas (Dana) and Angie
Armstrong (Gregg); her grandchildren Mol-
ly Weems (Ryan), Hannah Armstrong, and
Charlie Armstrong; her great-grandson, T.J.
Weems; her sisters, Sherry Holmes (Scott),
Wanda Barbee, and Judy Johnson; and a host
of nieces and nephews.
Betty’s life of faith, love, and service leaves
a legacy that will be remembered for genera-
tions to come.
The family received friends Sunday, Sept.
28, 2025, at Locust Fork Baptist Church from
2 p.m. until 4 p.m. A funeral service was held
at the church beginning at 4 p.m. with Randy
Cater presiding. Burial followed in Taberna-
cle Cemetery. Asked to serve as pallbearers
were Charlie Armstrong, Ryan Weems, Jarod
Holmes, Justin Holmes, Keith Mullins, and Jeff
Stephenson. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you
consider a donation to the Locust Fork Baptist
Kindergarten program in her memory. Please
make checks payable to Locust Fork Baptist
Church and memo “Kindergarten donation in
memory of Betty Thomas”.
Lemley Funeral Home is honored to serve
this family.