Cerry Ezra 'Jabe' Thomas

Cerry Ezra (Jabe) Thomas born May 12, 1930 went home to be with the Lord , Thursday June 4, 2015.

Jabe was preceded in death by, Father Ezra Thomas, Mother Mathia M. Thomas, and Brother Calvin (CAP) Thomas. Jabe is survived by his wife Betty Adkins Thomas of 65 years marriage and son Ronnie Darrell Thomas, daughter in-law Ruth of Christiansburg. Brother Dr. Arcel P. Thomas of Christiansburg, and Sister Loretta Eisenbeiss of Hyattsville, Maryland, nephew Gary Eisenbeiss and wife Sheilani and their son Nathaniel of Adelthi, Maryland niece Dawn Rubilar, husband Sebastian of Hyattsville, Maryland and Keith Thomas.

Jabe had a longstanding career in racing beginning in mid-1950’s on the dirt tracks in Virginia. Driving a Ford Coupe, he was the 1958 track Champion at the dirt track at Radford Speedway, in Radford Virginia (now Motor Mile). In 1965, at the age of 35, Jabe started his racing NASCAR’s Grand National Series, which later became known as the Winston Cup Series, in an ex Holman Moody 1964 Ford, making 322 starts with 77 top 10 finishes in his career. Usually Jabe partnered with Roanoke Virginia’s Don Robertson (Star City Body Shop) with crew chief Jimmy Cox preparing the cars. In 1968 and 1969, Jabe purchased Petty Enterprises Plymouths, several years later they were re-bodied with Dodge Charger sheet metal. Between 1968 and 1973, Jabe finished in the top twelve national points each year, with a 6th place ranking in 1971. Always a fun loving driver, Jabe never hesitated to allow others to drive his car. In 1970, two of Richard Petty’s 200 career wins came in Jabe’s Plymouth. Others to drive Jabe’s cars included Ned Jarrett, Bobby Allison, Wendell Scott, Cale Yarbrough, Charlie Glotzbach and Pedro Rodriques. Being one of the sports more outgoing Independent drivers Jabe always enjoyed meeting the fans and was known to many as the Clown Prince of Racing.

In 1977 Jabe passed the torch to his son Ronnie. In 1978 Jabe was the backbone and support of the team, which helped achieve Ronnie’s and Jabe’s goal of winning Rookie of the Year honors. Jabe was always coaching on the headset, giving lap times and looking for the best lane to pass and other times being the rear view mirror. Jabe held a major role in their 1990 Late Model Stock Car Championship at the New River Valley Speedway, wins at Martinsville Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway. On October 17, 2010 Jabe was inducted into the Memory Lane Racers Reunion Hall Of Fame in Mooresville, North Carolina, along with Ned Jarrett, Bobby Allison, Rex White, Louise Smith, Earl Brooks and Charlie Glotzbach.

Jabe started work at Harmon Fur Farm then Sam Moore Chair factory as a teenager, in the early 1950’s Jabe worked for Clover Creamy driving a milk delivery truck. In 1955 Jabe began operating Jabe’s Gulf in Christiansburg, Virginia until 1982. In 1968 Jabe & Betty decided to get into the landlord business making many friends and helping many tenants over the years showing time after time doing the right thing by people was more important than making profit. In 1998 Jabe and Ronnie purchased a Car Wash until selling it in 2003. Jabe, Betty and Ronnie were always close throughout life in family and business matters, being involved daily in all decisions.

Jabe touched many people throughout his life, he loved to make us laugh, and he will be greatly missed. Thanks is a small word to the impact he has had in his lifetime on all who met him. Jabe always wore a smile and was open to giving young people advice concerning decisions for their future. He had a giving heart and sacrificed so others could benefit from his good fortune, but would always say he was most fortunate and blessed that he had friends and acquaintances that did a lot for him also. Jabe lived his life to the fullest, he did what he wanted and enjoyed the life he made with his family. In his later years he enjoyed traveling throughout the country with his son Ronnie to special events or just Fun. Special note from Jabe in his final days was spoken to his Son and wife for us to tell everyone...’’Hello and Goodbye”, which made us laugh because it reminded us that was how he lived his life. Jabe and his wife Betty attended Harbor of Hope Pentecostal Church and believed God had blessed him and expected him to share his life with others. Jabe was an excellent husband, Dad, friend, and mentor to all who knew and
loved him.

Family will receive Family and friends Monday June 8, 2015 beginning at 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM with service following immediately after at the Harbor of Hope Pentecostal Holiness Church in Christiansburg, Virginia, located off Interstate 81 ex 118. Service will be conducted by Rev. Richard Kingrea and Rev. Leon Alley. Interment will follow at Sunset Cemetery in Christiansburg, where he will be laid to rest.

Special thanks to his brother Arch Thomas and caregivers Flo Akers of Shawsville and Betty Burress of Christiansburg during his final battle with Parkinson’s disease. Thanks to the Carillion Hospitals and staff in Christiansburg, Radford and Carillion Hospice for their care during this time. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Jabe’s name to National Parkinson’s Foundation, or the Alzheimer’s’ Association.