04/24/2026
Earline Elenor Thomas West was born on June 3, 1941, in Amherst, Virginia, to the late Granville Richard Thomas and the late Gertrude Rosa Thomas.
On April 16, 2026, Earline slept all day. Occasionally, she would smile or her eyes would flicker, as though she was talking to someone. That same evening, the Angels came to help her transition to her heavenly home. After a long battle with cancer and other health complications, and while being treated at the Centra Lynchburg General Hospital, she transitioned into restoration. She moved on to freedom from pain and distress. She moved on to receive God’s promise of everlasting life.
Earline was mindful and faithful to God’s promises. She accepted him as her Savior at a young age. She first joined the Piney Hill Baptist Church. Later, she moved her membership to Piney Grove Baptist Church in Amherst, Virginia. In New Jersey, she served in the Nursing Ministry and the Hospitality Ministry at Wayne Avenue Baptist Church in Trenton, New Jersey. After marriage, she attended services with her husband at the Union Baptist Church in Trenton, New Jersey, as he had been a longtime member there.
Earline would say on any given day that “Nobody but the good Lord and I know the pain that I’ve been through.”
She is now free.
Earline was a graduate of Central High School in Amherst, Virginia, in 1959. Shortly after, she decided to move to New Jersey to pursue a career in the nursing field. As an employee, she accepted a position at the Skillman Psychiatric Facility in Skillman, New Jersey. There, she received a lifetime service award. After over 25 years of service, she retired from the State of New Jersey at the age of 53.
After retirement, she had time to do the things that she enjoyed. She spent some time actively with the Eastern Star. During times of political elections, she may have been seen working the polls. She might have been found in the kitchen cooking or baking a cake. Crossword puzzles were her favorite thing, as well as playing Bingo. If you are not sure of how to operate your cell phone, Earline would surely help you out, especially if it was a game of Solitaire. If not doing any of those things, she might be in front of the television. She was the “QVC Queen” and she loved to shop! Not only did she shop for herself, but she shopped for everyone else too! Once she decided that you needed something, you could bet that it would soon arrive in the mail.
Earline was not a young bride, but she was a beautiful one. She married Isaac West in September 2003. She had no children of her own, but she welcomed the love of his children and grandchildren. They enjoyed 15 years together until Isaac became ill and now precedes her in death. It is our prayer that they are now together again.
Earline was preceded in death by her husband, Isaac West; her daughter by marriage, Tonja Brown; her sister, Edna Mae Thomas; nephew, Ira Lee Brown, for whom she was ever constant in his life; her brothers, Gerald Richard Thomas and James Nelvin Thomas; a great-great niece, Sonia Elizabeth Elliott; and devoted cousins, Wanda Arnette Morris and Vernon Carver Thomas.
Earline leaves to cherish her memory, her goddaughter, Cassandra King; daughters by marriage, Dodi Price and Joy West-Blondin (Craig); grandchildren, Lisa, Lea, and Theodore Brown, III, Laura Brown-Rivera, Daryll and Dexter Price, and Jaela West-Lewis; great-grandchildren by marriage, Leo & Elliott Moore, and Denver Price; son-in-law by marriage, Theodore Brown, II; sister-in-law, Dorothy Thomas; nieces, Cynthia (Niecey) Thomas Elliott and Dellareese (Reesey) Thomas, Twonya (Duwuantae) Tolbert, Jamie Thomas; nephew, James (Andrea) Ferguson; and a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews.
The Family wishes to recognize and offer our appreciation for all of the acts of kindness shown to Earline. Those loyal friends are Lynda “Flipp” Livingston, Elaine Walls, Wanda Wilson, Nancy Celestin, and a beloved cousin, Arthur Rose.
A homegoing celebration will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, April 27, 2026, at Davis-Turner Funeral Service. Interment will be in Fort Hill Memorial Park. Service of comfort entrusted to Davis-Turner Funeral Service.
