Alisa Roberta Thomas Passes
At age 49, Alisa Roberta Thomas, a beloved child of God, returned home to her father on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at her residence in Grand Rapids, Michigan surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Alisa was born on Tuesday, December 7, 1971, in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Mr. and Mrs. Frank and Wanda (Brent) Thomas. She was their first child and only daughter. She accepted Christ as a child and was an active member of First Community African Methodist Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids.
She was educated locally, attending Huff Elementary and graduating from City High School in Grand Rapids in 1990. Her pursuit of her undergraduate education brought her to Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana where she found her true calling in education and became an exceptional scholar and campus leader.
Life would bring her back to Grand Rapids, where she would do the lion's share of her work to improve our community.
Upon returning home, she had difficulty finding a permanent placement with the Grand Rapids Public School system, however her love for children fueled her determination and she stayed the course. Her persistence paid off and landed her a position at Martin Luther King Elementary in 2005.
On March 26, 2005, the Black Women's Roundtable awarded Alisa their "Women of Distinction Award" for her determination.
She would continue her work with the GRPS school system up until her death, with Aberdeen Elementary being her final assignment.
Her commitment to children did not end when the school bell rang. Alisa's community involvement in Grand Rapids focused on helping young people become leaders in our society.
While at Martin Luther King Elementary, she established programs for students helping them learn life skills. She developed the Princess Program, which allowed for young women to learn how to carry themselves with poise, and grace.
The culmination of the young ladies hard work was celebrated by a formal mother daughter banquet.
She would continue to nurture young women of distinction through her involvement with Theta Chi Omega Chapter of the Sorority.
What served as the foundation for all of the amazing works that Alisa did was her faith. Alisa was the true definition of what a follower of Christ should be like.
Never judgmental, she would listen, help and pray with those who needed her. Even as she battled her illness head on, she leaned on the Lord for strength.
She not only worshipped God regularly on Sundays but was a very active member at First Community African Methodist Episcopal Church, serving as a member of the Y.P.D. Children's/Youth Choir, Sunday School Teacher, Women's Missionary Society, Vacation Bible School and the church Nursery.
Left to cherish her memory are her parents Frank and Wanda Thomas, brother Ty Allen (Kelly) Thomas, niece's Ciera and Deiser Thomas, nephews Justice and Zavion Thomas, uncles John (Arentte) Brent, Lester Thomas, Ralph Thomas, Aunt Mildred Thomas and her beloved dog Scrappy Thomas.
Alisa's memory will be kept alive by a host of cousins, Sorority Sisters, friends, colleagues and former students.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents; Rosco and Willie Mae Thomas, John C. and Roberta Brent, aunts Mary Thomas, Helen Pruitt, JoAnn Brown, uncles James Thomas and Walter Thomas, Robert Brent and many Ivy's who went before her beyond the wall.
Tagged in: