Merci D. Thomas

Merci D. Thomas was born on January 25, 1950, to the late Granderson and Verly Moses Thomas in Bishopville, SC. She departed this life on July 19, 2026, at the Lexington Medical Center in West Columbia, SC.

When Merci was a young child the family relocated to Paterson, NJ. There the family attended Grace Chapel Baptist Church. They later moved to Newark and East Orange, NJ, where she spent a large portion of her life. Merci attended the public schools in Newark, NJ, and after graduation from high school, she furthered her education at Douglass College, Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, New Jersey (B.A., Liberal Arts). She later attended Jersey City State College (Graduate Study in Education). She held several teaching and training positions.

After returning to South Carolina, Merci was employed by the US Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, until her retirement.

Merci was a warm, friendly and kind-hearted person who was always giving and willing to help someone. She will be sorely missed.

In addition to her parents, Merci was preceded in death by two brothers, Granderson Thomas, Jr. and Michael Thomas; one sister, Charlene Reid.

She leaves to cherish her loving memories, one son, Damien Hamilton of Columbia; one brother, Ricky M. Thomas of Irmo; one aunt, Pearly Wilson of Bishopville; one brother-in-law, Renzie Reid of East Orange, NJ, several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and special friends.