Shirl Thurston Thomas, 79, of Newport News, passed away on Jan. 18, 2026.

Born in Mathews, she was the daughter of the late John and Eloise Thomas.

A graduate of Thomas Hunter High School and Norfolk State College, she was a member of Antioch Baptist Church, Susan. She retired in 2015 after a 40-year career as an Executive Assistant at Huntington Ingalls (Newport News Shipyard).

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Thomas, and sister, Ann Thomas.
Survivors include her brothers, Richard Thomas and John Keith Thomas, and sisters, Joan Taylor and Burnette Boddie.
A viewing will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, followed by a memorial service at noon at Newington Baptist Church, 6169 Main Street, Gloucester.

The service will be conducted by Apostle Dr. Steven A. Forrest Sr., Kingdom Covenant Ministries, Cobbs Creek, Va. The eulogy will be delivered by the Rev. Dr. Sedgwick Easley, Union Baptist Church in Hempstead, New York.

The funeral arrangements are provided by Forrest Brothers Funeral Home, Cobbs Creek.