Surpora Sparks Thomas, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Emeritus of Children's Hospital of Alabama, affectionately known as "Mrs. T" or "Ms. Children's Hospital", passed away on Saturday, October 3, 2020. She is a graduate of Westfield High School, Grady School of Nursing (Atlanta, GA) and University of Alabama in Birmingham where she received her BSN. She is an Alumnus of the first Executive MBA class of Samford University. She retired from Children's Hospital of Alabama in 2010 after 48 years of service, where the Surpora Thomas Pediatric Nursing Education and Research Center was named in her honor. She was the anointed Monday night Bible Study teacher at New Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Dolomite.

Her lessons are heard Sunday mornings on Heaven's 610 WAGG radio. She is survived by her devoted husband of 57 years Jule Thomas, III, 4 daughters Sonya Thomas (Douglasville GA), Sherri Thomas (Nashville TN), Julena (Eric) Johnson and Leah (Tremaine)Wilson, 6 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild, 1 sister, 2 brothers, 5 sister in laws, 2 brother in laws and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, spiritual sons and daughters.

Visitation will be Friday October 9, 2020 from 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm, Smith & Gaston Funeral Home. Celebration of Life services (for immediate family) will be held Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 1:00 pm, Smith & Gaston Chapel (masks required). Interment will follow at Patterson Forest Grove Cemetery (Pleasant Grove). Services will be streamed on Smith &; Gaston Facebook page. Funeral service will be held Saturday October 10, 2020 at 1:00 P.M. at Smith & Gaston Southside Chapel, with burial in Patterson Forest Grove.