Lillie Patricia Thomas

Lillie Patricia Thomas, daughter of the late Jessie Mae Lloyd-Pringle and Lindberg Pringle Sr., was born on April 24th, 1947, in Sumter, SC. She started her early education in South Carolina, and when it was time, the family later relocated to the Big Apple, New York City. She graduated from Brandeis High School. Her future accomplishments would range in various fields, including Hair, Business, Theology, Early Childhood Education, and Real Estate.

As she matured and grew in life, she met a young man, Mr. Raymond Cavassa. This relationship produced her eldest daughter, Charade M. A. Cavassa. Lillie, or Miss Pat, for those who are familiar calling her that, worked at Beekman Downtown Hospital for several years as a secretary. While striving for excellence in life, a young man, Richard D. Thomas, caught her eye and eventually captured her heart. Richard and Patricia’s love led them to Holy Matrimony. From that union, Richard D. Thomas (preceded in death), Mark C. Thomas (preceded in death), and Takiya C. Thomas were born.

Lillie, aka Miss Pat, always had the mentality and dreams of being an entrepreneur. Her grandkids would say she was more like a Mogul. She earned her cosmetology degree from Wilfred Academy. She also earned her Real Estate License. Patricia was a gifted visionary. Her work throughout New York led her to own several businesses. She opened her first salon in Jamaica, Queens. Does anybody remember the location in the Gertz Mall? That was in 1980! Her humanitarianism began when she started a soup kitchen in Harlem, where she would help provide hot meals and distribute bags of food to those in need.

Patricia eventually relocated her family to Newburgh, NY. She was a God-fearing woman of faith. Her quotes included, “No weapon formed against me shall prosper” and “I am a child of the Most High”. Lillie truly and unapologetically loved the Lord. She would profess the goodness of God during her good and not-so-good days. Even when she wasn’t feeling the best, you would still find her outside praying and ministering to the people, and there was no limit to where God would send her.

Patricia always had a soft spot for children and babies. She saw a need for children in the city of Newburgh, so she started a partnership with Toys for Tots in Newburgh. That fellowship introduced other opportunities, such as Angel Tree, Church Fellowships, and community organizations. She established a church called “Repairer of the Breach.”

God blessed her with many gifts and a heart for helping others. Those blessings allowed her to network with people from all phases of life. She never had a problem, consulting and advising because she had a vast knowledge of everything. It was in Newburgh, NY that she continued paving her way in the beauty industry, creating her lane in the media via her Radio Station Sermons, starting a couple of restaurants, opening a daycare, and even working in the prison ministry. Her most prized possession was her salon, Finesse II Capri. When she spoke of it, her smile would be wider than the Kool-Aid man. She opened up a soul food restaurant, and another called Hot Diggity Dog. She would feed, clothe, and provide shelter for the homeless.

Our mommy, Lillie Patricia Thomas, was an amazing woman, daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, guardian, creator, seamstress, teacher, and editor who started Torch Magazine. When it came to helping people in the community, she was dedicated, and people referred to her as “Ms. Pat.” In her 77 years on this earth, she has done so much for so many that there is not enough room to display all of her accomplishments.

Ms. Lillie Patricia Thomas is survived by her sister Sandra Harris, brother Samuel Pringle, and sister Mary Cleveland, all of New York, sister Martha Corpening of North Carolina, and Sister Maxine Smith of Pennsylvania. Her 2 daughters Charade Mack and Takiya Thomas. Her 15 grandchildren: (Sauntos) Chaneya Tomlin of Indiana, (Taimer) April Singleton of Delaware, Danielle Kelly of Maryland, Daryl (Andrea) Kelly of Connecticut, Demetrius Kelly of New York, Devhante (Nadaya) Thomas of New York, Demetrius Thomas & Brandon Thomas of Georgia, Enais Thomas & Sabien Thomas of Pennsylvania, Malik Williams, Tatiana Wimberly, Elijah Wadley, Jada, and Jaden Jennette, all of New York. God-sons: Joshua Cleveland and Larry Fowlkes; God-daughter, Jocelyn Cleveland and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, family, and friends