Veteran and Dougherty County Sheriff Office, Captain Ted Randall Thomas of 2812 Creedmoor Lane, Albany, Georgia died Sunday, September 29, 2024 at the Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held Saturday, October 5, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the Olive Faith Center in Albany, Georgia.  The burial, with military honors, will follow at Floral Memory Garden in Albany, Georgia.

Ted was called home to Eternal Rest on September 29, 2024, at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia. Although his death was unexpected at that time, his family finds comfort in knowing he lived a life that honored God. To his family and friends, he was affectionately known as "OT".

Ted was the eleventh child born to the late Johnny B. and Kathalean Thomas on August 17, 1967, in Albany, Georgia.

At an early age, Ted accepted Christ as his personal Savior and joined Hopewell Baptist Church in Gordy, Georgia. He later joined the Greater Second Mount Olive Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Lorenzo L. Heard, where he was currently a member.

Ted was united in holy matrimony to Kimberly C. Smith in 1994. This union was blessed with three loving children Charoski, Tashad, and Jawoski; three grand children Avenn, Aidenn, and Amari.

Ted matriculated in the Dougherty County School System and graduated from  Monroe High School in 1985 as a lifetime "Golden Tornado." After graduating high school, Ted enlisted in the United States Army in 1987 and was honorably discharged in 1990 from his last duty station in Fort Polk, Louisiana. Ted returned home and started several careers serving and protecting his community.

Ted started with Albany Police Department in 1990 where he had an illustrious  career for 17 years. Ted attained the rank of Corporal in the Albany Police Department (APD). During Corporal Ted Thomas' tenure at APD, he came a highly effective Gang Resistance Education and Training instructor where he trained officers throughout the country on becoming Gang Resistance Education and  Training instructors. He retired from Albany Police Department in 2007. Ted was not finished serving his community. He started a second career with the Dougherty County School System Police Department as a School Police Officer. Ted loved working and mentoring the children, and he especially enjoyed running the Gang Resistance Education and Training Program. Ted literally changed the lives of countless youth and adults in the schools and communities. Ted concluded his work in the Dougherty County School System in 2020. Ted still was not finished serving his community. Ted began a third career with the Dougherty  County    Sheriff's Office where he was hired at the rank of Captain. Specifically, he was hired to lead the Youth Division for the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office. Captain Ted Thomas' innovative thinking led to the establishment of the Albany Dougherty Youth Unit where he served as the Director. During his tenure at the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office, Captain Ted Thomas served as the Vice President of the Educators Georgia Association of School Resource Officers for the state, served as the Regional Director for the National Association of School Resource Officers, and served on the Command Staff for the Dougherty County Sheriff's Office. Captain Ted Thomas also held the office of treasurer for the Regional Director for the National Association of School Resource Officers. Ted earned many accolades and received recognition for the work and relationships he developed during his collective years in law enforcement.

Ted was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. Johnny B. Sr. and Kathalean Thomas; two brothers, Johnny B. Thomas, Jr. and Eugene Thomas; one sister, M. Kathy Thomas; his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Smith; and father-in-law, Richard Smith; two sisters-in-law, Bunice Sanders and Ruth Ann Denson; two brothers-in-law, Richard Smith, Jr. and Earl Smith, Sr.

Loving memories will forever be cherished by his beloved wife, Kimberly C. Smith Thomas, his three children Charoski Smith (Albany, GA), Tashad Ward (San Diego, CA), and Jawoski Thomas (Albany, GA); three grandchildren Avenn Smith and  Aidenn Smith (Albany, GA) and Amari Smith (Cordele, GA); his siblings, Larry (Shirley) Thomas of Sylvester, GA; Gwenda Gail Ware, Wade Thomas; Sarah Teresa Thomas, Katina (Arnold) Allen, Chris (DeMitria) Thomas, and Quinton Thomas of Albany, GA; Dr. Deborah Thomas of Tallahassee, FL; his sisters-in-law Viola Mann of West Palm Beach, FL, Louise Smith and Patricia Smith of Montezuma, GA; his brothers-in-law Robert Smith (Felicia) and Donaldson Smith (Kathy) of Montezuma, GA. Ted leaves a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives, friends, and his colleagues in law enforcement to cherish his memories.