Darlene Childs-Thomas

On January 24, 1958, Darlene Childs Thomas was the youngest child born to the union of the late Rev. Eugene Childs and Grace Helen Brown Childs in Dallas, Texas. Darlene accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church and later united with Triumph Missionary Baptist Church. At Mount Rose and Triumph, she was active in the choir, youth ministry and usher board. She later united with Galilee Missionary Baptist Church and was a faithful member until she became ill.

Darlene attended public school in the Dallas ISD and graduated from Skyline High School in 1976, where she was a part of the Child Development Cluster. Upon graduating from high school, she attended East Texas State University (now known as Texas A&M University-Commerce) and El Centro College. She graduated from Eastfield College with Associate degrees in Arts & Sciences and Child Development in 2002. She later received her Bachelor of Applied Arts & Sciences in 2011 from the University of North Texas.

Early in her life, Darlene worked for the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and Sears. With a love for helping children be successful in life, Darlene spent 30 plus years as an early childhood educator. She worked at Happiness House Private School as a kindergarten teacher and office manager and served as a Lead Teacher and Mentor-Coach at Martin Luther King, Jr. Head Start/Child Care Group.

On August 16, 1977, Darlene married George W. Blue III, and to this union two loving and devoted children were born. She later united in marriage to James Edward Thomas on February 29, 2000.

Darlene was a sweet, loving, kind, and God-fearing woman who loved her family dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents, Eugene and Grace Helen (Brown) Childs. She leaves to cherish her memories: her husband, James Edward Thomas; daughter, Emily Michelle Blue, and son, Christopher George Blue, both of Lancaster, Texas; a sister, Rose Mary Bolden of DeSoto, Texas; a brother, Rufus Gene Childs, Sr. (Cheryl) of Dallas, Texas; three aunts, Eura Glaspie of Easton, Texas, Mollie Butler of Lancaster, Texas, and Betty Duffey, both of Dallas, Texas; one uncle, Everett Johnson (Annear) of Kokomo, Indiana; George W. Blue III of Texas City, Texas; Shelia M. Blue of Texas City, Texas; Pamela M. Blue of Leander, Texas; a niece, LaQuinta Watts (Nathaniel) of Sunnyvale, Texas; three nephews, Rufus Gene Childs, Jr. (Amanda) of DeSoto, Texas, Michael Craig Bolden, Jr. (Vandrunika) of Mansfield, Texas, and Derrick Eugene Childs of Dallas, Texas; great-niece, Jazzenea Watts of Sunnyvale, Texas, and two great-nephews, Michael Craig Bolden III of Mansfield, Texas, and Derrick Eugene Childs, Jr., of Dallas, Texas. Darlene also leaves to cherish her memories an incredible host of cousins, other family and friends.