Lillian Thomas, 82, entered eternal rest on Dec. 15, 2016 at McCarrick Care Center in Somerset.

Mrs. Thomas was born September 20, 1934 in Oak City, N.C. to the late Mead and Agnes (Baker) Manning. She was one of 13 children. She lived in South River for many years before settling in North Brunswick.

Lillian was a faithful member of the Eternal Life Christian Center in Somerset and previously attended the Mt. Zion AME Church. She loved cooking, traveling and gardening. Most of all she treasured spending time with her family.

Mrs. Thomas was predeceased by her parents, Mead and Agnes Manning; her spouse, Elbert Thomas; her sons, James A. Thomas and Brian O. Thomas; her brothers, George Manning, Raleigh Manning and William Manning; her sister, Alberta Manning, Novella Johnson, Sarah Cox, Agnes Lively, Ella Mae Little and Jean Whitaker; and her grandson, Damon.

She is survived by her daughter, Delores Peteet and her husband Emory of Somerset; her sons, Gerald E. Thomas and his wife Cheryl of South River, Jon P. Thomas and his wife Carol of South Brunswick, Bruce A. Thomas of North Brunswick and Joseph ” Todd” Thomas of Piscataway; her brother, Willis Manning and his wife Laura of North Carolina, her sisters, Emily Staton of Maryland and Nollie Evans and her husband James of North Carolina; her grandchildren, Danielle, Emory III, Tyrone, Shenique, Bruce, Davon, Geron, Malisha, Jamar, John II, Chanora, Kiri, Kimberly, James and Destiny, her 12 great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be held at Eternal Life Christian Center 322 Franklin Blvd., Somerset from 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 20.

Funeral services will be held Dec. 20 at 11 a..m. at Eternal Life Christian Center. Burial will follow at Franklin Memorial Park Cemetery in North Brunswick.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The National Kidney Foundation, http://www.kidney.org/.