Mrs. Myrtle Lavon (Land) Thomas, age 89, passed away on Monday, March 24, 2008 in the North Florida Regional Medical Center. She was a native and longtime resident of Lafayette County, before moving to Branford in 1948.

Mrs. Thomas was of the Baptist faith and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Branford. She was also a member of the Branford Woman’s Club and a former Town Clerk of Branford. She was a homemaker who enjoyed cooking for people when she had the opportunity. Mrs. Thomas was preceded in death by her husband, Willie B. Thomas in 1987.

She is survived by: her mother, Ruby Land, of Mayo, a son, Charlie Thomas, and wife Sandra, 2 daughters; Faith Gresham and husband Paul, and Jo Ann Perry, all of Mayo, 3 sisters; Evelyn Koon and husband Donald, of Mayo, Jean Gregston of San Diego, Ca, and Pat Dykes and husband Raymond of Tallahassee, 8 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church of Branford on Friday, March 28, 2008 at 11 a.m. with Bro. Eddie Blalock officiating and Bro. Gordon Keller, assisting. Interment followed at the Alton Cemetery. The family received friends on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at the Burns-Morgan Chapel in Mayo from 5:30-8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Foreign Missions Fund at Salem Missionary Baptist Church (Salem Baptist Missions, C/O Thad Harden, PO Box 303, Salem, FL 32356).

Joe P. Burns Funeral Home in Mayo was in charge of all arrangements.