Rev. R. S. Thomas was born at Statesville, Tenn., October 23, 1820. He became a Christian in early boyhood, and at the age of eighteen put himself under the care of McMinnville Presbytery and began preparation for the gospel ministry. Not long after this he removed to West Tennessee and connected himself with the Hopewell Presbytery. Here his labors as a young minister were greatly blessed of God. He was a student for sometime in Bethel College, afterward (1847-1848) in Cumberland University.

In the autumn of 1848 he removed from Tennessee to Mississippi, located at Coffeeville, and began preaching to the church at that place. In April, 1849, he met with the Oxford Presbytery, in session at Mount Sylvan Academy, was received as a licentiate and ordained to the whole work of the ministry, Dr. Burney preaching the ordination sermon and delivering the charge. He returned to Coffeeville and entered into pastoral relations with the church there, which continued until his death, May 26, 1896, with the exception of one year which he spent as pastor at Dyersburg, Tenn.

He was at one time president of Union Female College, located at Oxford, Miss., but continued to supply the Coffeeville pulpit. Thus forty-seven years of his ministry were given to one church and one community. This fact alone speaks eloquently of the man and the preacher. As a man he was dignified, courteous, genial, prudent. The old and the young, the rich and the poor, the professional man, the business man and the day laborer, each were drawn to him and found in him a true friend and a wise counselor. His life was a continual benediction to the community in which he lived. He never grew old. He kept in touch with young life and progressive thought. As a preacher he was earnest and forceful, his utterances were re-enforced by a pure, guileless life. The people of Coffeeville are deeply conscious of the loss they sustain in Dr. Thomas' death. He knew their peculiarities of temperament better than any one else, and was therefore better qualified than any one else to minister to their varying wants. He had baptized them in infancy, led them to Christ, received them into the church, united them in holy wedlock, and in turn performed the same offices for their children. On festival occasions they will miss his cheering presence, and when the shadows fall across their thresholds they will feel the loss of his tender sympathy.

Mrs. Thomas, who was such an efficient, faithful helpmate to her husband in his work, continues her labor of love for the people in whose affections she holds so large a place.
    Nashville, Tenn.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, December 31, 1896, page 842-843]