Thomas, James Albert

James Albert Thomas, 73, of Christiansburg, Va., entered his eternal rest on Thursday, October 20, 2011. He was born on September 27, 1938, the son of the late Albert E. and Blanche Poyner Thomas. He was a retired minister, having pastored churches in Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia for the past 50 years, most recently the Fairlawn Church of Christ in Galax, Va. He received his BA in 1960 from Johnson Bible College in Knoxville, Tenn. He also completed other courses in clinical psychology and pastoral psychology in Stupenville, Ohio, and Greenville, N.C. He had been an employee for the past 15 years with Walmart in Christiansburg. He is survived by his wife, Beverly H. Thomas; brothers, Albert E. Thomas Jr. (Cathy), of Mount Pleasant, Ohio, and Donald W. Thomas (Sheila), of Hillsboro, Ohio; three sisters, Margaret W. Prah (Louis), of Uniontown, Pa., Linda A. Roberts, of Ontario, Canada, and Kathy Grimm (Douglas), of Morrell, Pa.; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Saturday, October 22, 2011, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Horne Funeral Home. The Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, October 24, 2011, at Belmont Christian Church, with Mr. Porter Riner and Mr. Jim Bayne officiating. Interment will take place at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25, 2011, in Lafayette Memorial Park, Briar Hill, Pa., with his brother, Albert E. Thomas Jr., officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the James A. and Beverly A. Thomas Permanent Preaching Scholarship, c/o Johnson University, 7900 Johnson Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37998. Online condolences may be left by visiting www.hornefuneralservice.com.