Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4. The family of Sheila Yvonne Thomas are saddened to announce her passing on March 21.
Kitty, as she was affectionately known, was born on September 16, 1944, in Green Bay, Antigua, to Robert and Amelia Byrd. As a middle child, she naturally developed independence, empathy, and a gift for being a peacemaker. Above all else, Kitty was deeply devoted to her family, whom she loved fiercely and cared for with unwavering dedication throughout her life.
On February 15, 1971, she married the love of her life, Ran. Together, they built a home rooted in faith, love, and perseverance, raising their children to embody kindness, respect, integrity, and compassion for others. Through her example, Kitty taught the importance of putting family first, serving others selflessly, and living a life guided by purpose and grace. Though her absence has left her loved ones heartbroken, they cherish the love shared, the memories created, and the lessons learned from her life. Forever loved. Forever remembered. Forever in our hearts.
She was preceded in death by her, spouse, Randolph Thomas; siblings, Thomas Merchant, Hyacinth Browne; child, Sean Thomas, nephew, Trevor Byrd.
She is survived by her, siblings, Conrad Byrd, Jean Byrd, and Eunice Ambrose; children, Randolph (Steve) Thomas, Ermin Smith, Rudell, Karen, Stacy, and Shauna Thomas, along with Shanna Stevenson (daughter-in-love); grandchildren, Omari Benjamin, Jinelle Banks, Tiffney Bailey, Tremanye Thomas, Caliph Wall, Khaleel Thomas, O’Nesha Hansen, Dohnysha Holland, Tariq Wall, Tariq Thomas, Raheem Thomas, Thalia Murray, Alyrica Winslow, Jahyra Thomas; great- grandchildren, Omani, O’Shea and Tamia Benjamin, Maasai and Maalani Banks, and Camron Thomas; nieces & nephews, Yvonne Greenaway, Arthur Cummings, Deborah Sherman, Sharon Weekes, Sharon Charles, Denise Phillp, Terrance Browne, Novella Phillip, Michelle Mizrahi, Colette Christian, Alison Browne, Stacy Roberts, Sean Roberts, Lucinda Browne, Kelly Byrd, Natalie Mulholland, Conrad Byrd, Alicia Ambrose, and Allison Ambrose; special nephews, Dwight Spencer and Jamil Thomas; godchildren, Dawne Simon and Leslie Maduro; in-laws, Miriam Merchant, Rubert Thomas, Genevive Winter, Judith Barnes, Alcott Ambrose, JoAnn Thomas, Tamara Benjamin, Deshauna Thomas, Antoinette Thomas, Daniel Banks, Loriann Thomas, and Gabriel Murray; special friends, Christina Bastian, Tennyson and Irene Joseph, Cavelle Dickenson, Christobelle Heskey, Veron Isaac, Heather Aska, Pet Simon, Melba Williams, Melrose Herrington, Rose Williams, Sylvia Henry, Violet Nero, Elvina McIntosh, Edris Weekes, Dawn Martin, Emelda Isaac, Agatha Phillip, Camella Nesbitt, Arnold Jarvis, Pamela Richards, Devon Phillip and Family, Esther Williams, Tyrone Lake, Vernon Thomas, and Antonio Rivera and Family; extended family and friends, Dawn and Ezra Tonge, Emanuel Barnes, Rodrigo, William, Israel, and Isaac Gonzales, Bernard Shaw, Ivan Hansen, Chimwala McIntosh, Kyra Lynch, Suzan Hopkins, Carla Ragguette-Cascen, Shelbourne Simeon, John K. Kennedy Family, Ronald Inglis, Anthony St. Louis, Steve Funderburk, Jose Estela, Tyrone Joseph, Marcia Johnson, Clarice Krieger, Marisa Samuel, Alfred Moore, Dalsia Parrilla, Anna Hall, Mount Pleasant Villas Friends, along with Jerry and Diedre Carver; precious friends and other relatives too numerous to mention.
A viewing will be held on April 29, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc. 4040 Estate La Grande Princesse, Christiansted, VI 00820.
Funeral services for Sheila “Kitty” will be held on Thursday, April 30 at 10 a.m., with viewing beginning at 9 a.m. Services will take place at Friedensberg Moravian Church, 1–6 Hospital Street, Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands. Interment will be held at Kingshill Cemetery.
Professional arrangements are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home.
