Miss Phyllis Dianne Thomas, age 66, of Lillington died Thursday, August 12, 2010 at her home. She was born in Lee County, the daughter of the late Neill Baxley Thomas, Sr. and Emily Matthews Thomas. Phyllis was a graduate of Lillington High School and Campbell University. She received her Master's Degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Phyllis was the youth and education director at Grove Park Baptist Church in Burlington. She served as a missionary journeyman in Guadeloupe, French West Indies. After training in Costa Rica, she served as a missionary for 12 years in Antofagasta, Chile.

She returned to the United States and taught in Alamance, Lee and Harnett counties. Phyllis was a devoted and active leader of Antioch Baptist Church in Mamers. She was instrumental in establishing a pregnancy crisis center in Mamers which will open in September.

Phyllis is survived by her sister, Janet Blackwell of Lillington; brother, Baxley Thomas and wife Frances of Lillington; nephews, Dustin Blackwell and wife Dara of Mamers, Neill B. Thomas, III and wife Angie of Lillington, Walter Thomas and wife Tracy of Fuquay-Varina; nieces, Diana Thomas and fiance Cody Abernethy of Cohoes, NY, Kristin Blue and husband Brian of Carthage; "Grandkids", Ava, Nolan, Janna, Chandler, Kaitlyn, Tyler, Addison, and Jonas.

The Thomas family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. at O'Quinn-Peebles Funeral Home on Saturday, August 14. A funeral service will be held Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at Antioch Baptist Church, followed by burial in the church cemetery.

Memorials can be made to NC WMU and/or Pregnancy Crisis Center, both in care of Antioch Baptist Church, PO Box 525, Mamers, NC 27552.The Thomas family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. at O'Quinn-Peebles Funeral Home on Saturday, August 14. A funeral service will be held Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at Antioch Baptist Church, followed by burial in the church cemetery.