Wanda Fay Rankin Thomas

 Farrar Funeral Home, Jefferson City

Wanda Fay Rankin Thomas - age 100, of Jefferson City, TN, died July 26, 2024, in the home of her daughter Tanya, and son-in-law Russell Turner where she was cared for the past 8 years. Born March 12, 1924, in Jefferson City, TN, Wanda was the third daughter of Isaac Lafayette "Fate" and Grace Ward Rankin. Wanda is a descendent of the Rankin family who were one of the original families to settle in east Tennessee in the late 1700s in the Dumplin Valley area of Dandridge, TN. Wanda grew up on Redland Dairy Farm on Fate Rankin Road in Jefferson City. As part of the greatest generation, she often shared memories of being a little girl milking cows before school and being handed a milk bucket when she got off the school bus after school each day. She had fond memories of the 1920s and 1930s and the farming life with limited resources and always the necessity to conserve, not waste. She never forgot how scarce and precious clothing, shoes, and food were during those times which heralded the saying "Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without." Summers were hot but were bearable enough for early morning blackberry picking and evenings in the shade sharing cool watermelon. Her most precious memory was how wonderful and caring her parents were. Every good thing anyone could find in her, she would always attribute to her parents. She always said she simply had the best parents anyone could ask for. Wanda graduated from Jefferson City High School in 1941, where she played basketball all four years and was chosen Miss DAR her senior year; she then attended National Business College in Knoxville, and was promptly employed by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). She started work at Douglas Dam while it was under construction, and when construction began at Cherokee Dam, she transferred there where she would remain for the next 41 years. Her career at TVA spanned a total of 42 years. She met, courted, and married her sweetheart from Newport, TN, Bobby Thomas. They married in the Lebanon Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Jefferson City, TN, in 1951. Their pride and joy was two daughters, Melanie and Tanya. Wanda lost her husband Bobby in 1979, becoming a widow, with Melanie married and starting a family, and Tanya, a 14 year old daughter still to raise. Wanda faithfully supported Jefferson County High School and Carson-Newman sports teams, earning the nickname "Momma T," and all of her life even to the very end, was a loyal Atlanta Braves baseball fan rarely missing a game on television. She was a member of George Street Methodist Church in Jefferson City but in later years enjoyed being a member of the Agape Sunday School class at First Baptist Church. Of all worldly things, Wanda held in the greatest regard and protection a love of family, often reminding her daughters and their husbands about the importance of staying together through good times and bad times. Her far-reaching influence encompassed many distant relatives. As the only living elder of both sides of her family, she became the matriarch of both the Thomas and Rankin families. Wanda was preceded in death by her parents Isaac Lafayette "Fate" and Grace Ward Rankin, her husband, Bobby; sisters Myra Rankin Fielden, Cleva Rankin Cox, Lillian Rankin Holsaple, and Tommye Louise Rankin; son-in-law Jack Hodgson of New Market; grandson Trevor Isaac Hodgson of Dandridge; and several nieces and nephews. She is survived by her daughters Melanie Hodgson of New Market and Tanya (Russell) Turner of Jefferson City; nieces and nephews Anita (Lee) Stroupe of Boone, NC; Gary (Rebecca) Fielden of Dandridge; Terry (Sandy) Cox of Blaine; Gary (Jane) Thomas of Knoxville; Joe (Cathy) Thomas of Maryville; Linda Kay Gregg of Newport; David (Carolyn) Thomas of Dandridge; Tommy (Anita) Thomas of New Mexico; and granddaughters Cara (Sia) Vojdani of Atlanta and Jamie Hodgson of Dandridge. Great-grandchildren include Crosby and Cooper Hodgson; Anisa, Ellis, and Naomi Vojdani; and Layna and Axl Turner; and many other great-nieces and nephews. 

The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at Farrar Funeral Home in Jefferson City, TN, from 3pm until 6pm, with the service to follow at 6pm. Burial will be 11am on Friday, August 2, 2024, at Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Jefferson City, TN. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made for the upkeep of the family church property at Rankin-Bradshaw Church Property, 446 W Old AJ Hwy, New Market, TN 37820.

Farrar Funeral Home of Jefferson City, TN, is in charge of arrangements.