Johnetta Thomas

Obituary For Johnetta Thomas

Johnetta Marie Thomas was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on December 20, 1928 to the late John E. Thomas and Beatrice V. Thomas. She was the youngest of two daughters. Johnetta went home to the Lord on October 24, 2023.

Johnetta accepted Christ as her Savior when she was 12 years old at Grady Chapel CME Church. She later joined her family in membership at the Mt. Nebo Baptist Church where she was baptized by Rev. D. Love. After moving to Orange Mound, she joined Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and became a loyal and dedicated member for over fifty years. At her passing, she was the oldest member of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, now under the pastorage of Dr. Harvey Jackson.

Johnetta graduated from the Booker T. Washington High School in 1945, attended LeMoyne College from 1945 to 1947, and subsequently moved on to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1948 to attend and graduate from Tennessee State University, in 1951 with a B.S. in Physical Education, Health and Recreation. She became a majorette with the great TSU Marching Band and served as a member of their nationally recognized Modern Jazz Dance Group.

Johnetta began her 32-Year distinguished career as a Memphis City School teacher in 1951 and taught exclusively at Melrose High School. She taught Physical Education, Health, Dance and English. She served as the Chairwoman of the Girls Physical Education Department for a significant portion of her tenure and exceled as coach of the girls volleyball and basketball teams. She took the girls track & field team to the state championships 6 of the 9 years she led this program. Johnetta was also advisor to the Melrose High School Marching Band for 13 years where she assisted the band director in training the band to execute intricate marching and dance maneuvers, as well as choreographed the majorettes (considered the best in the city during her tenure). Her input contributed significantly to the sterling state-wide and regional reputation of the Melrose Marching Band, so much so it placed first in both years it competed in the Arkansas High School Band Festival. Johnetta was also co-advisor to the Melrose High School cheerleading squad and advisor to the Tri-Hi-Y Club.

However, dance was Johnetta’s passion. She decided to test her passion for pursuing a professional dance career by training for six weeks during the summer of 1957 at The School at Jacob’s Pillow, one of the most prestigious professional dance training centers in the U.S. located in Becket, Massachusetts. She thoroughly enjoyed her modern, ballet, tap, and jazz dance immersion experiences, but her passion for engaging youth led her to return to Memphis to expose young girls to the art of dance in ways that would enhance fitness and introduce them to experiences they would, otherwise, not be able to access elsewhere.

Johnetta - energized by her Jacob’s Pillow experience - produced, directed and choreographed four annual “Showcases” or variety shows involving all class levels at Melrose’s elementary, junior and high Schools. They were the first of their kind in the Memphis City School System and considered critical successes.

Johnetta retired from teaching in 1983 and immediately established her “Lively Arts Dance Academy,” which allowed her to expand her talents to the broader Memphis Community.

Johnetta was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Inc. Importantly, she was a principal organizer and advisor to the Epsilon Kappa charter undergraduate chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority on the campus of Memphis State University (now University of Memphis). She was a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. She also served as a member of the Tennessee and National Education Associations, and as a Faculty Representative to the Memphis Education Association.

She was preceded in death by her only sister, Ouita Thomas Brown. She is survived by her three beloved nephews, Michael D. Brown Sr. (Carmen) of Bartlett, Tennessee, Johnny C. Brown, III of Chicago, Illinois, and Keith E. Brown of Falls Church, Virginia. She is also survived by devoted grand and great-grand nieces and nephews, friends and students, and will be missed enormously.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, October 31, 2023 11:00am for a Graveside service in Forest Hill Midtown Cemetery 1661 Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis, TN 38106

Interment will be in Forest Hill Midtown, Memphis, TN.