Major (Ret.) Howard Thomas, Sr.
(August 15, 1959 - March 30, 2026)
Viewing Location: Leevy's Funeral Home, 1831 Taylor Street, Columbia, South Carolina
Viewing Date & Time: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Funeral Location: Oak Grove Baptist Church, 2603 Old Two Notch Road, Elgin, South Carolina 29045
Funeral Date & Time: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 11:00 a.m.
Interment Location: Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Road, Columbia, South Carolina 29229
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to any U.S. Veteran Organization.
Mr. Thomas you was the greatest boss, supervisor and as our work relationship grew you became my friend. I started CHA @ Saxon Homes as your Administrative Assistant. You trained me well and I made Property Manager because you saw what I had to offer Columbia Housing Authority. You made my day everyday I worked @ CHA. Love you and you will truly be missed. Gone but not forgotten. In your words “My Dear”!
Mr. Thomas what can I say about the worlds greatest Boss. You truly was a great role model and you taught me how to choose my battles. You were a great Boss and friend. Little did I know when we talked the first of March it would be our last conversation. I told you that I would come see you and I didn’t get that chance.
You will truly be missed.
REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND
Mr. Thomas you will truly be missed. Thank you for your years of training and leadership at Columbia Housing Authority.
Mr Thomas you were my first Supervisor when I started at CHA many years ago. You made certain everyone was well trained and made us all a family. Throughout the years u looked out for us all and made our working at the agency a proud place to be as a high performer each year. You were our mentor, our family and friend. We can never, ever forget the times we shared as family growing and learning together. You made us all better and u may no longer be in our presence but always in our heart. RIP my brother and friend.
Mr. Thomas thanks you for your leadership although you had to me mad with your toughness you saw the best in me and for that I thank you for the push. You will be truly miss.
Rest in peace Mr. Thomas
It’s been awhile “HT” (Boss) but I have fondly kept you in heart and mind throughout my PHA and HUD journey. It is because of your mentorship, training and at times hard counseling that kept me focused to be the very best that I could be. It paid off successfully throughout the years. You are now resting in PEACE! My only regret is that I didn’t visit the CHA and you sooner. Your Marine Corps friend. RLK
Mr. Thomas, I thank you for giving an opportunity to learn and grow in the CHA Family. You believed in me when others didn’t, you gave me a chance to experience difficulties and tasks that will be with me for the rest of my life. Now is the time for you to take your rest. Rest in Eternal Peace. You will be missed, but never forgotten. My deepest sympathies and condolences 💐 to the entire family. Job well done Mr. Thomas. 🕊️
To Nyccole. I extend my deepest sorry for the passing of your dad. Williemae Ackerman
The Cooperative Ministry
Rest in peace, Mr. Thomas. You were far more than a supervisor to me; you were a true door-opener. I will forever be grateful for the leadership and the professional opportunities you provided during my time at Columbia Housing.
To My Friend “Mr. T”, the Master, made a decision and it was for you to come home and rest. You shall be missed. To the Family, GOD. is to Wise, Just and Loving to make a mistake. Remember, what is recording in Psalm 30:5, “That weeping may endure for a night; But in the morning JOY will come”. Hold on to GOD, unchanging hand. And, in closing thank you, for being a friend.
Well Mr. T you did not prepare US for this!! Thank you so much for the leadership and direction on this side. It is because of YOU that I now have property management experience. Thank you for allowing me to enter into another door and I have been embracing new roles at my beloved Columbia Housing every since.
You loved the choir and we loved you!! Your favorite song was always “EVERY PRAISE”. We will forever cherish you victory and the testimony you had in that song.
So you REST in POWER and enjoy your new journey Sir.
We will miss you !!
Howard, you were always the best-a very analytical thinker, an excellent strategic mind, you understood people and their motives and you recognized the good from the bad, meaning their character and their motives. Some of them you had to promote, but you knew they were of bad character. As I always told you, you are man with the pure heart and you will see God.
Be a peace, job well done.
RIP Mr. Thomas. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for the opportunity and support you provided for me and so many others at Columbia Housing. You are and will always be truly missed….
#Ourmathimaticalgenius
My sincere condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of “Mr. T”, as I fondly greeted him when the opportunity availed.
I worked under his leadership at the Columbia Housing Authority for nearly 10 years. And for that entire time I believed he was a retired Colonel or General Officer. No one ever said it, but that’s how he impressed me. A gentle giant of a professional who gave exactly what was needed: be it words of praise or a verbal thrashing. He was also a jovial leader with a keen sense of humor. So much so that I can see him now, grinning and saying, “See, I beat all you suckers to the finish line.”
Well Sir, that you did. Now, as we mourn our loss, we will celebrate your life and smile when we can — hoping that one day we will meet again. Rest in Peace my friend. With all God’s Glory, Rest in Peace…
I am sorry to hear about the passing of my friend. I pray that GOD will comfort the family during these difficult days. We will miss him at SCSU football games. Tail gate buddies,Ron, Frank and James.
Our sincere condolences and prayers to the family.
Rest in peace Mr. H! Your family and friends will truly miss you. God will take care of Mrs. Carrie for you.
Your CHA Family
Yoyo
Will miss you my friend.Rest in peace Howard.The Lord has you under his wings.We will take care of Carrie for you. Connie Fogle Past Aux President VFW Post 4262
To a man who never needed an introduction; uncle we love you more than the sun loves the earth! 🩵 you’ll never stop living within our hearts . We love you unconditionally and please watch over us as you sit with God. Please rest knowing we understand it was your time. God needed you more and we will forever love you unconditionally. 🩵