Rev. Edward Eugene Thomas was born on November 23, 1953, in Chester, PA.  He is the second of three children born to the late Eugene and Johnnie Lee Thomas.  In 1963, the family moved to Claymont, Delaware where Rev. Thomas soon joined the St. Matthew CME Church in Twin Oaks, PA, under the pastorate of Rev. Joseph A. Hayes.

Rev. Thomas attended the Public Schools in Claymont, Delaware where he graduated from Claymont High in 1971.  After many years of working to support his family Rev. Thomas returned to school at the urging and support of Dr. (now Bishop) Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr.  In 1994, Rev. Thomas received the Bachelor of Arts Degree from Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, AL, with a major in Organizational Management.  He earned the Master of Divinity Degree from Memphis Theological Seminary in 1977.  He earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, North Carolina in May 2006.

Rev. Thomas was ordained Deacon in 1979 by Bishop Nathaniel Linsey and ordained Elder in 1984 by Bishop Oree Broomfield, Sr. and was admitted into full connection at the New York-Washington Annual Conference in 1986.  Rev. Thomas has served as pastor at the following CME churches:  Delaware Mission (1982-1986), St, Mark CME, Philadelphia, PA (1986-1987), New St, John, West Atco, NJ (1987-1988), St. Mark, Springfield, MA (1988-1991), St. John, Jasper, AL (1991-1992), Jefferson Chapel, Moundville, AL (1992-1993), Emory Chapel/Franconia, Aliceville, AL (1993-1994), Mt. Nebo, Baldwyn, MS (1994-1998), Reeves Temple, Lake Charles, LA (1998-2002), Reid Memorial, Greensboro, NC (2002-2004).  Rev. Thomas presently serves as Pastor of Young Missionary Temple CME in Raleigh, NC.

Rev. Thomas has held many offices within the CME Church, these include:

President/Vice President Northeast Mississippi Annual Conference Board of Christian Education (1994-1998).

Chairman-Ministerial Examination Committee, South Louisiana Annual Conference (1998-2002).

Assistant Dean Louisiana Leadership Training School (1998-2002)

Assistant to the Bishop South Louisiana Annual Conference (2002)

Host Pastor South Louisiana Annual Conference (2000 and 2002)

Delegate General Conferences of the CME Church (1998 and 2002)

Rev. Thomas has also served on numerous boards and ecumenical bodies including:  Louisiana InterChurch Conference, American Bible Society, Lake Charles, LA, Human Relations Committee, Big Brothers Big Sisters, One Church-One Child and the NAACP.  He has served as the CME Representative on the Project/African-American Advisory Board of the American Bible Society, assisting in developing marketing strategies for the [Jubilee Bible].

Rev. Thomas is married to Tina.  They are the parents of two sons and three daughters and they also have ten grandchildren.

First Lady Tina Thomas