Services for Thomas Lockridge will be held Saturday, October 28, 2006 from the Growing Valley Baptist. Pastor C. E. Faulks, Officiating, Burial Grace Hill Cemetery.

THOMAS LEE LOCKRIDGE was born on December 27, 1914 to the late Wiley Lockridge and Angeline Gregg Lockridge in Rayville, Louisiana. Thomas was the youngest of seven children; Roy Lee, Idella, Aliha, Willie Lee, James and Erecter. All preceded him in death. Thomas was prudent in heeding to Solomon's wisdom cry in Ecclesiastes 12:1 when he said, "Remember now they Creator in the days of thy youth;" thus, accepting the Lord as his personal Saviour at a very early age. The family later moved to the great state of Texas, where he grew up to adulthood.

In 1935, he united in holy matrimony to Erma Taylor. To this union were born three sons. Thomas led his young family to the house of the Lord, and united with Growing Valley Baptist Church in Longview, Texas where he was found to be a dutiful member. With great interest in the spiritual welfare of his family, he remembered the precepts taught in Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart." Therefore, he and his wife, led by example in taking their children to church with much emphasis on Sunday School, thereby shaping their lives in the right direction.

Thomas Lee Lockridge was later married to Eugie Rudd for forty years. She preceded him in death in 1995.

In 1999, Thomas Lockridge moved to Los Angeles, California. In a short span of time, became a watch-care member at Greater New Zion Missionary Baptist Church, under the divine leadership of the late pastor, Dr. Thomas P. Moss. His watch-care status was uninterrupted under the leadership of the present pastor and noble leader Dr. Ricardo Bartlett Sr.

October 20, 2006, Thomas Lee Lockridge departed from this earth for another land, "A city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

Cecil Lockridge, his first born son, preceded him in death on January 23, 2004.

He leaves to cherish his many beautiful memories three loving sons, S. M. Lockridge of Los Angeles, California, Andrew Lockridge of Tyler, Texas and Marvin Rudd of Cleveland, Ohio; four affectionate daughters-in-law, Bobbie Lockridge of Gardena, California, Ona Lockridge of Los Angeles, California, Lillian Lockridge of Tyler, Texas and Bernice Rudd of Cleveland, Ohio; twelve grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren. He also leaves to cherish his memory many nephews, nieces, cousins, and a host of friends.