Jean C. Thomas

Jean Thomas’s  (nee Campbell) move to Westminster Canterbury is the second time in her life she has lived somewhere other than Amherst County, Virginia.  Born there, she graduated from Temperance High School in 1946, today Temperance Elementary School on Lowesville Road.  She attended Mary Washington College (now known as the University of Mary Washington) for two years, earning an elementary school teaching certificate in 1948.  

While a student at Mary Washington, she met Morris H. Thomas (deceased April 10, 2019) at a dance.  They married in 1950 and Jean taught elementary school in Amherst County until daughter Sandra Thomas, a resident of Charlottesville VA, was born.  She also has a son, Robert (Bob) Thomas who lives with wife Noel in Lynchburg.  Jean has two grandchildren.

She entered Lynchburg College (today the University of Lynchburg) in 1972, and graduated in 1973, with a major in elementary education.   She returned to an elementary school classroom in Amherst County teaching until her retirement in 1991.

Both Jean and Morris enjoyed traveling and regularly took family vacations, sometimes staying close to home or spending time at the beach, but also venturing farther away, going to Canada and Florida.  Once the children were grown and Jean and Morris were retired, their travels became more adventuresome.  They have been in every state except North Dakota; they even went to Alaska twice, the second time on a cruise.  On a trip driving to the West, they intentionally visited national parks with Jean eager to tell you about their time at Yellowstone.    She also fondly remembers the cruise that took them through the Panama Canal and the group trips when they toured European countries and Mexico. 

 In addition to traveling, Jean likes to read and is always ready to play a card game—Bridge, Canasta, Rook, 7-11, and Hand & Foot.  In fact, she is already on the substitute list for WC Hand & Foot games. Jean has also been an active volunteer, serving on various committees within the Amherst Retired Teachers organization, helping with Red Cross Bloodmobiles, and teaching Sunday School and participating in other activities at Clifford Baptist Church.