- Date Of Birth: July 21, 1940
- Date Of Death: March 16, 2022
- State: Michigan
Dorothy Lee Thomas was born on July 21, 1940 to the union of Sarah Robinson and Tommie Lester (both parents preceded her in death).
Dorothy was baptized and accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior. She was saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost. She loved to
read God’s word ,pray, worship and praise God. She joined Pentecostal Temple over 30 years ago under the leadership of Bishop C.M. Laster.
Dorothy met and married the love of her life James (Jim) Edward Thomas on March 11, 1989. The two were inseparable and were the best of
friends. Dorothy loved to travel. She and Jim went to Jamaica on their honeymoon in 1989, and then returned to Jamaica 14 years in a row
because of the friendships they developed on every trip. They just celebrated 33 years of marriage.
Personality Traits and Anecdotes
Dorothy was a true DIVA and Fashionista! She acquired these wonderful qualities from her mother
Sarah and passed them on to her own children. It was customary for her and her daughter Martil to
shop every weekend because Mondays always deserved a new outfit! Not to mention how
well-coordinated she and Jim were every Sunday at church. Deacon and Sister Thomas were matched
from head to toe, regardless of the color, the rainbow was the limit!
Dorothy was a classy lady and most often reserved until she got to know you. Even though reserved,
she would not hesitate to set you straight if you stepped out of line or were ever disrespectful.
She had a profound sense of humor and often responded when asked what was going on, “Ain’t Nothing
Going on But the Rent, and The Money’s Already Spent.” She kept her home as tidy as she did
herself and could be considered as somewhat of a “Neat Freak.
She was also a big sports fan. She never missed a single football game her sons Leon and Wayne
played for the Charles F. Kettering High School Pioneers. She was also a Kettering (KE) Pioneer,
going back to high school in her forties and graduating with honors from Kettering just as did ALL
4 of her children. She was a diehard Detroit Lions and Detroit Pistons fan. She and family often
attended games in the late 80’s when the Detroit Pistons “Bad Boys” took home multiple NBA
championships. She could yell and jump up and down with the best of them.
Family Members
Dorothy leaves to cherish her memory her husband , James Thomas and three stepdaughters Alvertena
Watts, Gwenda Mitchell, and Juanita Tucker, all of Detroit, MI.
Dorothy was the mother of four children born of her union and first marriage of 25 years to Leonza
Foster Sr. From that union came Carolyn Harrell of Detroit, MI, her sons Leonza Foster Jr.
(deceased 2008) and Wayne Foster (deceased 1990), and Martil Cosper (Arthur) of Charlotte, NC.
Dorothy was one of ten children. She leaves seven siblings to cherish her memory, and they are:
Katherine Singleton of Valdosta, GA, Tommy Lester (Geraldine) of Naylor, GA, James Lester (Marilyn)
of Miramar, FL, Pearl Marable of Dixie, GA, John Lester (Helen) of Naylor, GA, Margaret Williams (Curtis) of Macon, GA, and Larry Lester (Rose) of Statenville, GA. Her sister Betty Brown-Smith and brother Frank Lester proceeded her
in death as did her lifelong friend Gloria Davis (deceased 2017). Dorothy had eleven grandchildren, Nekisha Fomebuh (Kafui), Leonza Foster III (Tiffany), Anthony Foster (TaQuisha), Dorian Foster, Demetrius
Foster, Amber Cosper, Malcolm Cosper, Omari Mitchell, Alexis Watts, Andrew Watts III, and Adam Watts. She had nine great- grandchildren, and
two great great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
