Gloria Thomas

Mrs. Gloria Hardy Thomas, 83, of Albany, peacefully passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2026.

Born on February 16, 1942, in Bainbridge, GA, Mrs. Thomas was the daughter of the late Carl Hardy and Lillie Mae Wade Hardy. She worked for several years as a church secretary and for many of those years at Victory Tabernacle Assembly of God and for a while at Morningside Methodist. She was a devoted minister’s wife that enjoyed singing and playing piano. Gloria also worked for 25 years for The Albany City Police Department Traffic Division as a dedicated crossing guard. She was a talented cake decorator and enjoyed gardening. Most of all she loved The Lord, her family and time spent together. She was of the Assembly of God faith and will be greatly missed.

In addition to her parents, Gloria was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Rev. Robert “Bud” Nelson Thomas, Jr.; son and daughter-in-law, Buddy Thomas and Janet Thomas; sister, Jacqelyn Straitwell and infant sister.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Cindy Davidson and Wesley of Albany, and Forrest Thomas and Kathy of Albany; grandchildren, Victoria Davidson of Atlanta, Zachary Davidson and Arabella Davidson both of Athens, Tyler and Blake Thomas both of Albany.

A celebration of life service honoring Gloria's life will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Saturday February 28, 2026, in the chapel of Joseph W. Jones Funeral Home. The family will visit with friends following the service. 

Joseph W. Jones Funeral Home of Leesburg has been entrusted with the care of the family of Mrs. Gloria Hardy Thomas.