Emmelene Thomas' Obituary
OBITUARYEmmelene Thomas was born December 26, 1909 in Baton Rouge, LA. As a young woman she dreamed of being teacher. She had to abandon her dream of being a teacher because scarlet fever, contracted as an infant, left her hearing impaired. She married Joseph Thornton Sr. in New Orleans in 1929. To this union five children were born. Emmelene moved to Oakland, CA in 1950 divorced, and married Ulysses A. Thomas (U.A.). Emmelene and U.A. enjoyed a loving union until his death in 1998. Emmelene's love of people, particularly hosting and entertaining them, was a catalyst for her lifelong cooking and cake-decorating career. Her children were always recipients of superb meals and home made desserts. Her love of baking led to a job in a New Orleans bakery. She longed to attend cake-decorating school, but Jim Crow laws denied her entrance. Undaunted, she watched the bakers each day at work, practiced what she observed the bakers do at home, and taught herself to become an exquisite cake decorator.After relocating to Oakland, Emmelene had to accept "Day Work" as it was called then. Today, it is known as housekeeping. While grateful for the work that provided for her family, she longed to launch her career as a cake decorator. Finally, she was able to secure a job at Woolworth's in San Francisco in the bakery department as a bench hand. During the interview Emmelene insisted that she could also decorate cakes; her supervisor, disbelieving, challenged her to decorate a cake. Shocked, after she demonstrated her superior cake decorating skills, Emmelene got the position of cake decorator.Given this opportunity, she proved herself, excelled, and was recognized and honored for her cake decorating skills. After twenty-five years at Woolworth's, she retired, but wasn't ready to sit down. She went to work for her late sons, Joseph and Walter; first at the Rainbow Diner & Carwash and then at Walt's Hickory Pit where she worked until her second retirement in 1997 at the age of 88. Walt's Hickory Pit was a popular community gathering spot where locals and celebrities gathered to talk and laugh over hot coffee, grits and eggs, mouth watering BBQ, peach cobbler and, that famous macaroni and cheese all served with a dose of Emmelene's love and wit! Emmelene, affectionately known as Mamalene, was a member of Allen Temple Baptist Church where she was one of the oldest members to be baptized at the age of 94. She also worshiped at Jones Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco. Mamalene taught life lessons to all around her by example. She wanted everyone to see the benefits of keeping your body in shape and all saw the positive benefits of her daily workouts out at the 24 Hour Fitness Center located in San Leandro. Mamalene also took water exercise classes at Laney College until age 96. She always led by example. To celebrate her 100th birthday, Mamalene had her daughter, Dr. Shirley Thornton take her to New Orleans to visit her son Byron, who resides in the family home, owned since 1929. Mamalene was preceded in death by three of her children, Norma Thornton-Martin, (1949), Joseph Thornton (1981), and Walter Thornton (1997). She is survived by her children, Byron Thornton, Dr. Shirley Thornton and her stepdaughter Marion Thomas Jiles, her grandchildren, Rene Martin, David and Michele Thornton, Joseph and Ricky Thornton, and Delra Hayes, 11 great-grandchildren, 6 great-great grandchildren, her daughter-in-law, Bess Thornton and daughter-in-law/caretaker Francoise Thornton, her surrogate grand-daughter, and loving friend, Zakiya Jendayi, and her caretaker, Donald Toles. Mamalene was grateful for the friendship of her sister-in law Amelia Thornton-Johnson, and for the loving friendship and care she received from Dr. Kimberly Hicks, Pamela Davis and Marilyn Mackel. Mamalene also was thankful for the love of her dogs, Buster, Star and Ginger. Mamalene always said, "I thank God everyday of my life for I have been truly blessed."
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