Bacon County lost a pillar of its community on June,18 2020, at 4 pm when Ottis “Harold” Thomas, 75, passed away after a short period of illness. He was very much a family-oriented man and his life centered on those he loved. From a young age he had an entrepreneurial spirit, opening Thomas Garage in Nicholls in the 70’s. After several years he came to Douglas to operate Harold’s Texaco Station. In 1985 he purchased land off of Highway 32 in Douglas where he is best remembered for the lawn mower repair business “Harold’s Service Center” that he ran for decades and the “Dixie Dirt Pullers” tractor pulls which took place on Saturdays behind Harold’s home on White Pine Hwy.
Harold was born February 12, 1945 in Nicholls, Georgia to Mr. and Mrs. H.E. Thomas. He attended Bacon County High School and graduated in 1963. Upon graduation Harold joined the Navy and was stationed in California and Florida over the next three years.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 38 years, the former Miss Jackie Gattis who passed away in 2004 and his daughter Stephanie “Ginger” Whiddon who passed away in 2018. Mr. Thomas is survived by a son Martin “Marty” Thomas; and son-in-law Brian Whiddon; grandchildren Shannon Thomas; Caitlin Whiddon; and Cameron Whiddon; and one great granddaughter Zoie Henkel.
Visitation will be held at Sims Funeral Home on Sunday, June 21, 2020 from 6:00-9:00 PM. Services will be held at Salem New Congregational Methodist Church on Monday, June 22, 2020 at 11:00.
Interment will follow at Moore Lee Cemetery off Lucy Moore Road in Nicholls.
Sims Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.