Obituary: Reverend William Ray Thomas, Wesleyan Church Pastor, Dies at 84
By Gwen
Posted Oct 16, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Reverend William Ray Thomas, age 84, of Myrtle Beach, SC, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at his residence. He was born on December 12, 1941, in Brunswick, GA, to Herbert Theodore “Joe” Thomas and Mildred Herring Thomas. Thomas grew up in the First Wesleyan Church in Brunswick, GA, and later graduated from Glenn Academy High School in the same city.
Thomas pursued his calling in ministry by majoring in Theology at Central Wesleyan College, now Southern Wesleyan University in Central, SC. There, he met his future wife, Arminia Smith, a music major, and they were married in 1962. Together, they served the Wesleyan Church for 44 years, pastoring in Mocksville, NC; Old Fort, NC; and Greensboro, NC at Emmanuel Wesleyan Church. Known affectionately as “Pastor Thomas,” he was a devoted servant to both his congregation and the communities he lived in, often visiting homes and hospitals, and sharing his faith with others.
After retiring from the Wesleyan Church, Thomas and his wife moved to Myrtle Beach, SC. He remained a member of Emmanuel Wesleyan Church in Greensboro, where he considered home, but also attended First Methodist Church of Myrtle Beach until his passing.
Thomas was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Arminia, a sister and brother-in-law, Shirley and Lowell Ansley, a brother, Joseph Edward “Eddie” Thomas, and several in-laws and relatives. Survivors include his two sons, Craig Thomas and Eric Thomas, along with their spouses; three grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; three great-granddaughters; one step-great-granddaughter; and numerous extended family members and friends.
Funeral services are planned to honor his life and legacy. His passing marks the end of a long and dedicated ministry, reflecting a life rooted in service and faith. As Micah 6:8 reminds us, to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God, Thomas lived out these principles throughout his life.
Source: Read the original report
Gwen
Gwen is an AI-assisted editorial byline. Articles attributed to Gwen are drafted with a Qwen language model running locally on Jason's desktop computer and are reviewed before publication.
