Shanta Thomas

Shanta Thomas, known for her beautiful smile, and affectionately known as "Smiley" by her high school friends at Frederick Douglas High School in Atlanta, Georgia, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 28, 2024, at the age of 41. Shanta was born to Dwayne Coleman and Tina Smith on September 9, 1983, at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. She would live in Georgia for most of her life. On May 29, 2016, Shanta married her husband, David Thomas, and moved with the children to join him in Midland, Texas. Shanta was a woman of strong faith and credited a lot of her growth to her church family at Berean Christian Fellowship Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia. As her family grew so did her faith and relationship with God. With continuous efforts of becoming the best version of herself and one with Christ, Shanta later found her home at Elevate Church in Midland where she absolutely loved to attend and worship with her family.

To know Shanta was to know how much she loved her family. When Shanta wasn't busy creating memories for friends, she dedicated her time to creating a life full of experiences with her husband and children. Shanta prioritized capturing every moment and made sure to share all of them. From the photos she blew up to add life and character to the walls of their home, to the ones she sent to family and friends, Shanta knew that a picture was more than a snapshot-it reflected important moments that she wanted us all to remember forever.

Given this, it was only natural that she named her company "Genuine Creations." This became another way to show her care and love through her passion for creating. Whether decorating her home for each holiday or occasion, decorating her office at work, making trophies for the youth football teams that were coached by her husband, making beautiful displays and arrangements for friends' birthday celebrations, designing custom t-shirts for each occasion or event, including for her father-in-law's 70th birthday celebration, her gift to create was simply unmatched. Shanta embraced her talents and gifts and with confidence and humility shared them with others. Although her favorite holidays were those that brought family together like birthdays, New Year's and Thanksgiving, she absolutely loved Christmas and made sure everyone knew it. Shanta's unique vision allowed her family to have their own Christmas wonderland each year as she recreated her personal version of a Hallmark movie. From the six different Christmas trees that added the holiday spirit to each room of her family's home, right down to the life-sized nutcracker that welcomed guests at the front door during the winter holiday season.

Shanta's authentically warm smile lit up every room she entered, touching the lives of all who knew her. She was the heart of every gathering, whether hosting cookouts, vision board parties, family nights, game nights, couples' dinners or any reason to have David cook, she was always ready to plan the next party or gathering. These things brought her true joy.

Shanta also loved the color red, so much so, that she even wore a red wedding dress. This is a perfect reflection of her courage to color outside of the lines, live boldly, and to walk with a vibrant spirit seeing life through her own lens. That vibrant spirit shone through in her love and appreciation for traveling. There are so many places she enjoyed with her family -whether at the beach, road tripping through multiple states, attending festivals and sporting events, experiencing something new with family and friends, or taking wedding anniversary getaways with her beloved. One trip, a spiritual retreat to Sedona, Arizona, held a special place in her heart. She spoke fondly of wanting to go back someday for a family girls' trip.

Shanta was unafraid to be who she was and transparently lived life out loud. Determined to reach her goals and to make her childhood dreams a reality, Shanta was the first in her family to go to college. She unapologetically attended classes with her then newborn, graduating with a bachelor's degree from Georgia State University. Her compassion for people and her lived experiences inspired her to successfully pursue a career in social work, a calling that became her life's mission. Always aiming to be a better version of herself, she went on to earn her Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia, proudly representing her alma mater and its red color. She would faithfully commute back and forth from Atlanta to Athens until her goal was achieved. Shanta dreamed of working at the V.A. hospital in San Antonio, Texas, serving those who served our country, a cause that was close to her heart.

Shanta's joyful personality and gift for maintaining meaningful relationships is what makes her unforgettable. Shanta had a special ability to draw people in, nurturing friendships that spanned all stages of her life. Her children will miss a mother that loved them unconditionally, every day. Her family will miss the glue that held them together; her brothers will miss a big sister that cared enough to offer tough love with good intentions. Her sister will miss the sound advice that was easily given because of the love she had for her. Her friends will miss the countless conversations and moments that they shared, and the Thomas girls will miss her spirited banter about books they were reading together and the many movies and tv shows that lit up the group chat. Her husband will miss his life partner who helped to mold and shape the husband, father, son, and friend that he is today. To her husband, she was his heart, to her children, she was their mother and confidant, to her family she was their beloved Tay, to her friends she was their inner truth and to the world she was a spirit and kindness that will remain with us all forever.

Left to cherish her memory is her husband, David, and their children: Akeiya Shelton-Thomas, Emoni Jones, Dejah Jackson, Ian Danson, Erin Danson, Jada Jackson and Royal Thomas. Shanta is also survived by her mother, Tina Smith (stepfather George Cooper), brother Andaris (Tondra) Pace, brother Eddie Smith, sister Unique Cotton, stepbrother Rayshawn Alex Cooper, all of Atlanta, GA; mother-in-law, Maggie Thomas of Stafford, VA; father-in-law Roy Thomas of Valdosta, GA; sister-in-law Teona (Rick) Goebel of Columbus, GA; sister-in-law Kimberly Thomas of Stafford, VA; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and very special friends who became family.

Shanta is now reunited in heaven with her father, Dwayne Coleman, her stepson Cam'run Michael Lewis, maternal grandparents Louise Haygood Smith and Thomas Smith, paternal grandparents Minnie Coleman and Matt Coleman, and her brother Dwayne Anthony Coleman, Jr.