Jerry Wayne Thomas (a.k.a. “J.W.” or “Corkey”), 72, passed away at Hope Hospice in Cape Coral, Fla., on July 16, 2017, due to late stage lung cancer, while surrounded by his children during his final hours.

Jerry was a product of Varnado, who graduated from Varnado High School in 1962. He then attended college at Northwestern State University in pursuit of a degree in history. He spent a career in law enforcement, which included a stent with the New Orleans Police Department.

After training in corrections at Angola, he spent over 20 years at WCI in Angie. During most of his tenure, Sgt. Thomas had a trustee crew who performed an array of enhancement projects at the Washington Parish Fairgrounds, for which he received a number of accolades. He was named Officer of the Year in 1989.

He loved life enjoying family, friends, reading, politics, travel, and all things history. During his retirement, he produced epic gardens whose bounty he shared with all who knew him. He scaled to the top of Mt. Washburn in Yellowstone and the heights of Machu Picchu in Peru, hiked the Smokies, ventured below the pyramids of Egypt, white watered in Alaska, and strolled the lava fields of Hawaii.

While he will be missed, his spirit will be with us always. Now that his memorial has been erected, a brief service will be held for him at Seal Cemetery on Saturday, Sept. 16 at noon, where his remains will be interned beside his adoptive mother, Mildred Hamilton.

J.W. is survived by his children (Kimberly Yvonne Hadrava, Jerry Von Thomas, and Stephanie Comfort), grandchildren (Chelsey, Kellie, Joe), and great-grandchildren (Ava, Eli).