Fate Thomas Sr.

Fate L. Thomas Sr., 81, of Ooltewah, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, June 26, 2014, at his residence where he was lovingly cared for during a brief illness. Born on April 8, 1933, to the late Edward H. Thomas and Annie Woods Thomas, Fate grew up in his beloved town of Sweetwater, Tenn. It was there, near the front steps of Sweetwater Methodist Church, that he received his call to the Gospel Ministry. He was ordained as a minister on January 30, 1955 at Sweetwater First Baptist Church. Being chosen as a spokesperson to proclaim the gospel of redemption to mankind was an honor that he accepted with great awe and thankfulness. His life was one of service to others and a deep love for his family. Barbara, his wife of 58 years, was the "love of his life" and served alongside him during his ministry with creativity and great compassion for others. Fates children and grandchildren were a source of great joy and pride throughout his lifetime. He was a graduate of the Tennessee Military Institute (1951), University of Tennessee Knoxville (1951-1954), Carson-Newman College, B.A. (1956), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Masters in Theology, (1960), and also completed special studies in archaeology, Southeastern Baptist Seminary (1961) and archaeological study tours of the Middle East. Fate served as the Minister of the following churches; Fairview Baptist, Sweetwater, (1954-1956), Bear Creek Baptist, Bear Creek, N.C., (1957-1959), Franklinton Baptist, Franklinton, N.C. (1959-1962), Ridgeview Baptist, Chattanooga, (1962-1976), First Baptist, Etowah, Tenn., (1976-1978), Associate Staff Minister, First Baptist Church, Chattanooga, (1979), and Memorial Baptist, Chattanooga, (1979-1981). Fates greatest passion in the Ministry was his 25 years of service as Executive Director of CONTACT of Chattanooga, a 24-hour telephone crisis intervention and counseling ministry. He served with great compassion and tireless energy in this position during the years 1981-1999, returning several years later as interim director for six additional years. He was grateful for the many dear friends from each church he served who enriched his life. As an interim Pastor, he served for Concord Baptist, East Brainerd Baptist, Frawley Baptist, Ashland Terrace Christian, Lookout Valley Baptist, all of Chattanooga; First Baptist, Daisy, Tenn.; First Baptist Church, Whitwell, Tenn.; First Baptist Church of Lakeview, Rossville, Ga.; Trenton Street Baptist, Harriman, Tenn.; Memorial Baptist, East Lake Baptist, both of Chattanooga; Peavine Baptist, Rock Springs, Ga.; First Baptist Church, Chickamauga; Ridegeview Baptist, Chattanooga; First Baptist Church, Fort Oglethorpe, and Grace Works, Chattanooga, Tenn. He was very active in the community and had served in the past on the following boards and committees; Credentials Committee, Tar River Baptist Association, N.C. (1960), Business & Industrial Committee, Hamilton County Baptist Association (1963-1964), Social Service Committee, Hamilton County Baptist Association (1966-1969, 1972), Publicity Committee, Hamilton County Baptist Association (1966-1969, 1972), Camp Hacoba Board of Directors, one term, Baptist Student Advisory Board, UTC (1969-1971), assembly committee, Hamilton County Association (1971-1974, 1976), President of Baptist Pastors Conference, Stewardship/Finance Committee, McMinn Baptist Association (1976-1978), trustee of Tennessee Baptist Childrens Home (1975-1979), chairman of Finance Committee, Tennessee Baptist Childrens Home (1981), chairman of Min-Tom Committee Childrens Home (1982), Board Member of Industrial Chaplains, Chattanooga, (1983-1984), Vice-President of Clergy Association of Greater Chattanooga (1983-1984). He was the past president of the Civitan Club of Chattanooga and had also served as a board member and club Chaplain. His personal interests and hobbies included hiking, model planes, sports and World War II history. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Chattanooga. Along with his parents, Fate was preceded in death by sister, Mary Jane Thomas; brother Ed Thomas Jr.; sisters, Katherine Loomis, and Evelyn Pender. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Barnett Thomas; sons, Fate Lynn Jr. (Susan) Thomas and Marc (Angie) Thomas; daughter, Rachel Ann Thomas; and grandchildren, Matthew (Chelsea) Thomas, Anna Thomas and Brooks Thomas. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, June 28, at the First Baptist Church, 401 Gateway Ave., with Rev. Don Givens, Rev. Dan Scott and Dr. Thomas Quisenberry officiating. Burial will be in Westview Cemetery, Sweetwater. Archie Myers, Dr. Bill Rowe, Jack Duggan, Lebron Sterchie, Fate Lynn Thomas, Jr., Marc Thomas, Matthew Thomas and Brooks Thomas will serve as pallbearers. The Waters Sunday School Class will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m., today, June 28, at First Baptist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Organization at www.komen.org Please share your thoughts and memories online at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com. Arrangements by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, East Chapel, 404 South Moore Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.