Evelyn was born October 30, 1912 in Fulton County, daughter of the late George Washington Hammett and Edna Ivey Hammett. She was a graduate of the Girls High School, attended the High Museum of Art and studied engineering drafting at Georgia Tech. Evelyn was a clerk in her father’s furniture store until the beginning of World War II when she became a mechanical draftsman’s for the United States Army. She met and married her husband J.W. Thomas in 1943, soon after J.W. was sent to the front lines in the European Theater where he was captured and held as a prisoner of war until war’s end. After returning they moved to J.W.’s home in Gordon County and bought the funeral business of Dick Jackson, together they owned and operated Thomas Funeral Home in the old Dr. Richards home in downtown Calhoun later moving to its present location of Red Bud Road, their son Bruce was born in 1946 and joined them in the family business.
She was from the very beginning a active member of the community, always proud of the fact that she gave her life to the Lord at age 11 she became a member of the Calhoun First Baptist Church, she served as a Sunday School Teacher, Supernatant of the Junior Department, and helped organize and teach the Ruth Sunday School Class. She was past-president of the Missionary Society and organized the women in the church to make Christmas Ornaments for the Christmas Tree which became a yearly celebration of Christ’s birth.
Dedicated to helping others she was past-president of the Sequoyah Garden Club and was awarded life membership in the Garden Club of Georgia, as a member of the Beautification Community she help to beautify downtown Calhoun, Evelyn was a member of the Calhoun Women’s Club and a charter member of the Historical Society, past-president of the WMU, the PTA, the Band Boosters, and the American Legion’s Auxiliary.
For those who knew Evelyn, they know that she was an accomplished painter first china and then with oil and water colors, her paintings still adorn the walls of the funeral home, she had a number of showings and was a first place winner with the Georgia Women’s Club and second place with her oil painting at the national convention.
She loved to travel with her family and had visited every state in the union including Hawaii and Alaska; they had also traveled to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Canada.
She was preceded in death by her husband J.W. Thomas, three sisters, Sara Hammett Jordon, Charlotte Hammett Wilson, and Marie Hammett Meadows, and one niece Elise Smiley.
Survivors include her son, Bruce G. Thomas and his wife Sue Ellen, two granddaughters, Sarah and Stephanie Thomas, one grandson, Gregory Thomas all of Calhoun. Two nieces, Carol Murphy and her husband Mike of Breman and Beverly Wilson of Roswell, one nephew, Allen Meadows of Barnesville. Several great nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, January 8 at 1 p.m. from the Calhoun First Baptist Church with Dr. Bert Vaughn and Dr. John Bledsoe officiating. Music was arranged by Carolyn Thompson. Burial followed in Fain Cemetery.
The family received friends Monday evening from 4 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
You may send condolences to the family at www.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com. Thomas Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements.