Janice Hightower Thomas

Our mother, Janice Hightower Thomas, passed from this life on Sunday morning, January 5, 2020 in her residence in Bowie, Maryland after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.  She was 86 years old.  

Mom was born to Freeman and Tabitha Hightower on April 24, 1933 in Binghamton, NY.  She was an amazing woman! From the time she was a young girl until her death she blessed those around her with her music, her faith in God, and to the end, her sense of humor.  Although she was always one of the few black children in her school, she was awarded “Most Outstanding Academics for a Girl” at Daniel Dickerson Jr. High, and in high school she was Secretary of the student government, a member of the National Honor Society and class Valedictorian.   Already an accomplished pianist and cellist, she received a full scholarship to attend Bennett College in Greensboro, NC where she majored in music and education. At Bennett she was the assistant choir director, chapel organist, Class President her junior and senior years, and Class of 1955 Valedictorian.  While home for the summer in 1954, she met the dashing Dr. Bezelle Thomas who was an intern at the local hospital. They fell in love and were married in June of 1955.  

Mom loved any and all people - especially children. She went on to receive an MA in Early Childhood Education from Syracuse University and taught elementary school music and special education for over 20 years.  At the age of 46 she received a full scholarship to George Washington University, graduating Summa cum laude with an MA in Psychology/Special Education for Severely Emotionally Disturbed Children. With that, she went on to teach severely emotionally disturbed children and youth in the D.C. and Montgomery County Public School systems until her retirement in 1993.  We don't know how she did it, but somehow she found the time and energy to pour into her children, her pragmatism, creativity, love for music, and passion for service as if each of us were her only child.  

Mom also directed her boundless energy for the good of her community.  She had no tolerance for “airs”, as she put it, or injustice and encouraged us to treat everyone the same no matter where they were from.  At the age of 28 my father and she launched and won the first housing discrimination case in Pittsburgh amidst opposition and death threats. In 1967 she was the ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy poster child and told us the little girl walked with crutches because she'd been kissed by angels. In 1970 she ran for School Board because she believed MLK should have a holiday, again, in the face of hate and threats. When with her impeccable record she was denied entrance into the U of MD PhD program, she protested until she was accepted. Satisfied, she kindly deferred her acceptance.  

In the community she was an Associate Member of Jack & Jill of America, a member of the Theta Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority of Silver Spring, MD, a long-standing member of Trinity Epsicopal Church, and a patron of the Washington National Cathedral.  

Left to cherish her memory is her life-long partner, Bezelle; children: Daniel (Hong Li), Karyn (Vernon), and Susan; grandchildren: Will, Leighton, Angelina, Nia, and Carina; Sister, LaVerne; Brother, John; her faithful and loving friend Dora Whitsett, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her brother Freeman.

Our mother, Janice Hightower Thomas, passed from this life on Sunday morning, January 5, 2020 in her residence in Bowie, Maryland after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.  She was 86 years old.  

Mom was born to Freeman and Tabitha Hightower on April 24, 1933 in Binghamton, NY.  She was an amazing woman! From the time she was a young girl until her death she blessed those around her with her music, her faith in God, and to the end, her sense of humor.  Although she was always one of the few black children in her school, she was awarded “Most Outstanding Academics for a Girl” at Daniel Dickerson Jr. High, and in high school she was Secretary of the student government, a member of the National Honor Society and class Valedictorian.   Already an accomplished pianist and cellist, she received a full scholarship to attend Bennett College in Greensboro, NC where she majored in music and education. At Bennett she was the assistant choir director, chapel organist, Class President her junior and senior years, and Class of 1955 Valedictorian.  While home for the summer in 1954, she met the dashing Dr. Bezelle Thomas who was an intern at the local hospital. They fell in love and were married in June of 1955.  

Mom loved any and all people - especially children. She went on to receive an MA in Early Childhood Education from Syracuse University and taught elementary school music and special education for over 20 years.  At the age of 46 she received a full scholarship to George Washington University, graduating Summa cum laude with an MA in Psychology/Special Education for Severely Emotionally Disturbed Children. With that, she went on to teach severely emotionally disturbed children and youth in the D.C. and Montgomery County Public School systems until her retirement in 1993.  We don't know how she did it, but somehow she found the time and energy to pour into her children, her pragmatism, creativity, love for music, and passion for service as if each of us were her only child.  

Mom also directed her boundless energy for the good of her community.  She had no tolerance for “airs”, as she put it, or injustice and encouraged us to treat everyone the same no matter where they were from.  At the age of 28 my father and she launched and won the first housing discrimination case in Pittsburgh amidst opposition and death threats. In 1967 she was the ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy poster child and told us the little girl walked with crutches because she'd been kissed by angels. In 1970 she ran for School Board because she believed MLK should have a holiday, again, in the face of hate and threats. When with her impeccable record she was denied entrance into the U of MD PhD program, she protested until she was accepted. Satisfied, she kindly deferred her acceptance.  

In the community she was an Associate Member of Jack & Jill of America, a member of the Theta Omega Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority of Silver Spring, MD, a long-standing member of Trinity Epsicopal Church, and a patron of the Washington National Cathedral.  

Left to cherish her memory is her life-long partner, Bezelle; children: Daniel (Hong Li), Karyn (Vernon), and Susan; grandchildren: Will, Leighton, Angelina, Nia, and Carina; Sister, LaVerne; Brother, John; her faithful and loving friend Dora Whitsett, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her brother Freeman.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you please donate to the Alzheimer’s Foundation in our mother’s name. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you please donate to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 in our mother’s name.