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Funeral Services Held Friday November 16 for former Chicago 15th Ward Alderman Theodore "Ted" Thomas

Theodore Thomas better known to his family as "Ted" was born August 3, 1936 in Houston, Texas. He was the son of Walker and Ruby Thomas and the eldest son of six children.

He departed his life on November 10, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois at the age of 76. He was preceded in death by his father Walker Thomas Jr., mother Ruby Thomas., daughter Janis Renee Toney., grandson Benjamin Toney, Jr and great granddaughter Amaria Toney.

Ted attended George Washington High School in San Francisco, CA, where he graduated in 1954. He joined the United States Air Force where he retired after 21 years of service. In 1984 he worked for The United States Postal Service as a Maintenance Mechanic and Electronic Equipment Repair Technician until his retirement in 1999. He served as president of the Chicago Chapter of ACORN, who advocates social justice and building stronger communities. He served many years as a Deacon of his church.

Ted's passion to make a difference and create change in his community led him to pursue a Chicago City Council position. He ran for Alderman of The 15th Ward, was elected in 1999 and served two successful terms under former Mayor Richard M. Daley. As Alderman he contributed to revitalizing the neighborhoods in his Ward by repairing streets, cleaned up vacant lots.  He worked in collaboration with the 7th and 8th Chicago Police districts to reduce crime, improve relations with community residents, and assisted in the development of two new schools, a homeless shelter, a community/daycare center and a library. Ted retired in 2007 due to heath reasons.

While serving in the military he met the love of his life Hattie Brown. Ted and Hattie were married on December 8, 1962 in Roswell New Mexico and settled in Chicago, Illinois. Ted and Hattie have been married for over 49 years and out of their union they had a beautiful daughter Janis Renee Toney, who preceded him in death.  He raised his three grandchildren with Hattie and in later years raised foster children.

He is survived by his beloved wife Hattie Thomas, granddaughter's Thea and Antoinette Tony (aka Buffy), great grandchildren, Victor, Amarion, A"Mieyah and Sincere, extended family; Kezzie and Venus Brown, Patrice McCarter, and Anthony Reese.  He is further survived by siblings James Ray Thomas (CA), Norma M Thomas (CA), Melvin Thomas Sr (CA) Gloria J. Thomas (CA) and Jacquelynn L. Smith (CA); In-Laws, Bernard Smith (CA).   Ted was funeralized at The Precious Memories Funeral Home, located at 7605 South Halsted and will be buried at The Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++   I have known and worked with Ted Thomas for over 20 years as a community organizer and activist and he was always a champion for grassroots people and he took that commitment to the Chicago City Council when he served as Alderman, and he deserved a much better tribute in his death than he got and I want to try and help the family get that kind of closure even if it is after his formal funeral services. His family deserves the appropriate City Council Resolutions from The City Council, Mayor of Chicago, and so many other leaders from political, religious, business, civic organizations who knew and worked with Ted Thomas throughout his civic and political career.  I will certainly help facilitate getting those recognitions to the family.