The sweet angel of mercy moved in quietly on March 25, 2016, and bore the spirit of Mary Lena Thomas at Our Lady of the Angels Hospital in Bogalusa.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 1, at the chapel of Crain and Sons Funeral Home in Bogalusa, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m.

The funeral service will be held Saturday, April 2, at Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church in Bogalusa at 11 a.m., with the Rev. E.L. Powell officiating and the Rev. Dr. Raymond Mims pastor.

Interment will follow in the Bogalusa Cemetery.

Crain and Sons Funeral Home of Bogalusa is in charge of arrangements.

She leaves to cherish her memories: five daughters, Dennice Thomas Nelson, Destini Jordan and Amari Jordan, all of Bogalusa, Charlotte (Richard) Bickham of Franklinton, and Yolanda Reason of Mesquite, Texas; one son, Broderick Self of Bogalusa; grandchildren, Tyler Thomas of Lafayette, Taylor Thomas of Baton Rouge, Tyran Holloway of Bogalusa, Teaghan Bickham of Franklinton, Ayana Reason of Mesquite, Alvin Crumedy and Chas Jordan, both of Bogalusa, and Devin Dawson, Daryan Self and D’Kayla Self of Duluth, Ga.; one brother, James (Beverly) Daniels of Bogalusa; two special godchildren whom she became a mother to after the death of their parents, Tonya Bickham (Kameron and Kashmia Bickham) and Tenille Johnson (Langston and Teniya) Tony Harris, of Bogalusa; a very special sister-in-law, Joyce Joiner of Bogalusa; two nephews, Thomas Jackson Jr. and Eddie Jefferson, both of Bogalusa; a very special niece, Althena Lisa Jackson (Amy Cox and Lance Jackson) of Bogalusa; special friends, Kenny Ray Walker, Mary Ann Reed, Carolyn Magee and Pauline White of Bogalusa, TaRhonda Smith of Poplarville, Miss., James Varnado of Los Angeles, Calif., Percy Varnado of Las Vegas, Nev. And the Rev. Lesley D. McKinley of Angie; and a host of other nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and loved ones.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Thomas; her parents, Jessie Merle Nelson and Aaron Brown; her aunt, Carrie Mae Andrew; and siblings, Lubertha Callahan, Mary Helen Jefferson and Thomas Jackson Sr.