JACQUELINE DENISE THOMAS

Jacqueline Denise Thomas was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on November 22, 1963, to the late William Sturdivant and Madonna Saunders. She grew up the eldest of sixteen children, eight brothers and eight sisters.

Jacqueline, more affectionately referred to as “Jcakie”, got her name from former First Lady Jackie Kennedy because she was born on the day that President Kennedy was assassinated. In her early years, Jackie moved with her family to Detroit, Michigan and attended Detroit Public Schools. She graduated from prestigious Cass Technical High School in 1981. Jackie gave her life to Christ and was baptized at Bethel Baptist Church East. As the eldest, she was a second mom to her other siblings until she was blessed with her own son, Brandon Sturdivant.

Jackie moved back to Indianapolis, Indiana in 1988 and got her first job at Kay’s Bridal. She then worked for J.C. Penney as a retail supervisor for over 30 years. This was very fitting since she loved to shop! It was once said that her home was known as mini “Penney’s”.

On June 24, 1997, Jackie was united in Holy Matrimony to Rufus Thomas, the love of her life.

Jackie cherished her roles as a wife, mother, grand-mother and sister. She adored her seven grandchildren as they    lovingly called her “Shee-Shee.” Jackie always had a smile on her face and a kind spirit to all that knew her. She recently took on a love for traveling, going on cruises, and attending her baby sister’s beauty pageants across the United States.

Jackie departed this earthly life on November 30, 2022, at the age of fifty-nine years and eight days.  She was preceded in death by her parents, William Sturdivant and Madonna Taylor;  husband, Rufus Thomas, and brothers, Anthony Paul Sturdivant and Dominic Sturdivant.

She leaves to cherish her memory her devoted son, Brandon Sturdivant (Deja); seven grandchildren, Bruce Butler, III, Montrell Butler, Tre-Shaun Ellis, Chyanne Sturdivant, Breanna Sturdivant, Adrianna Sturdivant and Bra’Nya Sturdivant; brothers, William Sturdivant, Jr., Danas Sturdivant, Jacques Sturdivant, Jon Sturdivant, Damon Sturdivant and Darius Schirato; sisters,       Madonna Sturdivant, Shaton Sturdivant-Ireland (Terence), Angelena Taylor, Je’Nice Sturdivant Bolds (Donald), Cierra Gaither, Kimberly Schirato, Jasmine Schirato and Jocelyn Schirato; great-grandchildren, Adalina Butler, Mar’Laya Butler and Karaun Butler, and a host of loving nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

Humbly Submitted              The Family

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of JACQUELINE DENISE THOMAS, please visit our floral store.