Montgomery pastor, wife die 2 weeks apart due to COVID-19

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Local pastor John Thomas and his wife Joann died two weeks apart from each other due to COVID-19.

Joann Thomas tested positive first after Thanksgiving and John just a few days after.

The family knew something was wrong with their Joann when she never opened her eyes after falling down to what they thought was an asthma attack.

They immediately took her to the hospital for further observation and there she tested positive for COVID-19 and later died on Dec. 10, and John’s condition continued to get worse.

“He was in good spirit,” said their son, Jerald Thomas. “He was worried about my mother and all he had was I think was a stomachache and by Tuesday he was throwing up and by the end of that week he wasn’t breathing that good, so it was quick it was a very quick transition,”

John died on Dec. 26.

John and Joann Thomas were married for 52 years, and for 41 years, John was the pastor of Coosada Church of Christ in Montgomery.

The family says they are remaining strong during this time saying this may bend them, but it will not break them.

“There is a time to be born and a time to die there’s a time to be pull up and a time to be planted so I knew then that we were ready before he knew us, so he taught us that,” Jerald Thomas said.

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