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A born storyteller, Huey Long Thomas passed away on Wednesday, November 3^rd, 2021, from pneumonia. Huey was born April 27, 1935, in the Bethany community, after graduating from Kokomo (Ind.) High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After discharge, he worked with the U.S. Postal Service. While in Kokomo, Huey became very involved in community service, especially the Red Cross and the postal workers union. Upon returning to his hometown of Bainbridge, he first went to work at Georgia Department of Natural Resources, then Bainbridge Fire Department, before serving as Chief of Decatur County Fire Department; ultimately returning to the Post Office, where he served until his retirement.

While in Bainbridge, Huey was very involved in the Veterans of Foreign Wars as well as countless fundraisers and causes. An ardent sportsman, he was constantly up for putting out baskets, limblines, or trotlines for catfish and could gash a suckerfish as well as anybody. In the fall, he could be found in the woods with his beloved beagles, which he raised and sold to countless numbers of people in the southeast.

Despite the cliché, Huey was the epitome of having never met a stranger. Whether it was swapping stories with his hunting buddies who knew him as “Mailman,” chatting up people he met in a store or restaurant, or regaling friends and family with tales and fables; but it was his connection with customers at the Post Office who bought stamps that he truly cherished. His relationships with those customers lasted well beyond his time behind the counter and he stayed in touch with many, long after he retired.

He is survived by his children, Rhonda Farmer of Havana, Fla., Troy Thomas (Jan) of Bainbridge, Todd Thomas of Milledgeville, Ga., and Lori Claypool (Mallory) of Walton, Ind., as well as grandchildren, Stefan, Haley, Ellie, Cole, Dylan, Tristan, Conner, Kieran; as well as great grandchildren, Allayna and Jaxon, and his siblings, Rodney (Jeanette) Thomas and Sharon (Mikel) Brown.  He was preceded in death by his wife Marie. Huey was a character who was loquacious, gregarious, and fun-loving, and will be missed by his friends, family, and all who knew him.

The memorial service will be held Sunday, November 7, at 3:00 p.m. at Bryant Funeral home in Bainbridge. The family will receive visitors afterward at Huey’s home at 2152 Pondtown Road.

Bryant Funeral Home, located at 105 N. Florida Street, is assisting the family with arrangements. (229-246-3321)