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Condolences:

Courtney McCranie Moon

So many wonderful memories with Janie Thomas! We loved going to her house to get blue crabs. She was an amazing lady who will be missed.

Cheryl Wilder

Will miss your beautiful blue eyes and warm smile. Rest in peace, Ms Janie

Darlene Crater

Marian Phillips, Marie Phillips, and Wyatt Fenton Lee (Amber), I'm sure that this has been an especially hard year for you all. I pray that the lord will comfort, and strengthen you through this loss. May the Lord give you all, "the peace that passes all understanding."

Kelly Griffin Diamond ( Mabrey and Elaine Griffin daughter)

I am so sorry for your loss 🙏 for your Family!

Melinda Crawford

Marian, I am so sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences to you and your family.

Debbie Chesser

Miss Janie, you was one of my best friends. I learned so much from you. I loved all of our trips for fwc meetings or lobbying in Tallahassee. It was never quiet when we were together. She was really disappointed when Trump didn’t win on her birthday. We'll win this time. She would always have her Trump hat on, she loved all the attention it got. She was like a mom to me and I will always love and miss you. RIP Miss Janie 🙏 😢

Rhonda Campbell

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in this time of lose

Ruby Jewell Walker Moffitt

We , in Canada, send our most sincere condolences to the family and friends. Janie is part of our foundation that we have built our familys on. Love you 1st COUSIN

Bridgette Davis

Marian Phillips, I give to you my sincerest condolences to you & your family. Although I did not know your mother personally when I look at the hardworking, kind, firm, & amazing person that you are; I can truly say she too, must have displayed the same qualities. Love you, Island Girl, continue to persevere! Classmate, Bridgette

Elizabeth Fullard

Ms. Janie will always be remembered by myself as a very determined hard working woman . She always had the persona

Janie Miriam Griffin Thomas

2024-07-03

Janie Miriam Griffin Thomas passed away peacefully at the Warner Center in Fernandina Beach on July 3, 2024.
Janie is preceded in death by her husband Louis O. Thomas “Louie”, daughter Anita Miriam Phillips, Deborah J. Gilchrist, parents Russell G. and Lille Mae Griffin, brother Frank Irvin Griffin and sister Geroma Griffin Wiggins.
She leaves behind her daughters, Annetta Marian Phillips, Antoinette Marie Phillips, grandsons Wyatt Fenton Lee (Amber), Russell Garrett Chaney (Summer Boulware), Hunter Ryan Chaney, Michael L. Gilchrist, granddaughter Sherry Ann Gilchrist. Great grandsons Skylar, Liam and Easton Chaney, several nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.
Janie was born November 3, 1936, on a farm in Brooks County Georgia. She left Georgia to attend Massey Business College in Jacksonville, FL. She worked at Howard Feed Mills as a bookkeeper. In the early 70’s, she began working at GATCO Tug Company at the Jacksonville Shipyards as a keypunch operator and bookkeeper. It was there she met Louie. They were married and moved the family from Dames Point in Jacksonville to Fernandina Beach.
Janie’s advocacy, with strong determination, will be well remembered as she fought hard for what she believed in. She was involved with the consolidation of Jacksonville back in the 1960s. In the early 1970’s she was involved with the boycotting of the Duval County Schools. Her daughters were being bussed across town from their local schools. During that event she made the decision to move from Jacksonville to Fernandina Beach, so her daughters could attend better public schools. Janie knew the importance of her daughters getting a quality education.
Janie and Louie began shrimping and opened Thomas Live Shrimp at their home in Nassauville. They allowed boaters to launch boats and purchase live & dead bait they caught. Janie was by Louie’s side as they shrimped the local waters. In the winter when it was freezing cold, Louie would dip river water in a bucket to keep her hands warm so they could shrimp. It was hard work, but she loved it.
In 1998, Janie was instrumental in saving the Nassau Sound Bridge, (known now as the George Crady Fishing Pier State Park) along with State Representative George Crady, Lowell Hall, County Commissioner David Howard, and Buddy Jacobs Esq. Janie was a lobbyist in Tallahassee advocating for the Commercial Shrimping Industry. She was well known in Fernandina, Nassau County and around the State of Florida. She served as Director of Organized Fishermen of Florida St. Johns River Chapter, member of Southeastern Atlantic Marine Fisheries Commission, Executive Director Shrimp Producers Association all of which she fought hard to preserve the shrimping industry. Janie, loved to fish; it was in her blood. In 1967 she caught a 5ft 6 ½ inch sailfish while on a charter fishing trip at Mayport. Even as her health declined, she was still advocating for the shrimpers.

Janie was a member of the Order of Eastern Star Ezra Chapter in Jacksonville, and Callahan Chapter for 50 years. She was also a member of the Church of Christ.
For those that knew Janie, you have many stories of her strong will, advocacy, and always being right, as she would say. Her famous sayings were “she has eyes in the back of her head”, and “you can do anything you want to do bad enough.” Her daughters heard this many times.
The family would like to thank her dear friend Dr. Kevin White for his true friendship, compassion, and care as her physician over the years.
A memorial service will be held at the American Legion, Post 54, on Saturday July 13, 2024, at 11:00 AM. A private burial will take place at a later date.

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