Melrose Johnson Thomas-Rich

Melrose J. Thomas Rich of Charleston, SC, widow of John S. Thomas and Thomas A. Rich, Sr. slipped quietly into her eternal rest and the joy of her reward on August 18, 2016. Services celebrating her life will be held at James Island Baptist Church in Riverland Terrace on Sunday, August 21, 2016. Visitation with the family will begin at 2PM, with funeral service starting at 3 PM. Interment will follow at Live Oak Memorial Gardens. She was born December 16, 1926, in Helena, Ga. and was the youngest of 13 children. She is survived by her children: Jay S. Thomas (Nancy), Katie T Ballzigler (Harry) and PJ Floyd (Ken); 6 grandchildren: Amy Lever-Neilson, Scott Thomas, Adrienne B Floyd, John Thomas Floyd, Daniel Ballzigler and Brandon Ballzigler; 2 great grandchildren: Capers Lever and Jessica Neilson and many nieces and nephews. Melrose was a beloved wife, mother and grandmother who adored her family. She was a licensed cosmetologist who ran her own salon on James Island for many years. She was also a business woman representing American Sentinel Life Insurance and American Foundation Life insurance companies as an agent. But mostly, she was a warrior in the Kingdom of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She worked in numerous capacities as a lifetime member of the Church of God in West Ashley. Later in life, she joined the International Order of Kings Daughters and Sons and became a Life Member of their Central Council. She served as the Order’s International Director of Student Ministries and Branch President for Charleston. For many years she distributed scholarships to selected students entering seminaries or medical schools across the country. Industrious in all her endeavors, she was a diligent servant in His Name. Melrose loved to study God’s word and share it with others. She also loved playing cards and frequently frustrated her grandchildren with her unbelievable luck. Good bye, MaMa. We will miss you. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital at MUSC, MUSC Cancer Research, or Kings Daughters & Sons Student Ministries.