Mrs. Frances Evelyn Westmoreland Rumsey Thomason

Mrs. Frances Evelyn Westmoreland Rumsey Thomason, age 94 of Toccoa, passed away Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Clary Center in Toccoa.

A daughter of the late Arthur G. Westmoreland and Minnie Pannell Westmoreland, she was born March 11, 1929, in Stephens County, Georgia. In 1949, Evelyn and her husband Ray Rumsey moved to Florence, South Carolina where he pastored Coles Cross Roads Free Will Baptist Church. She was actively involved in that ministry, teaching Sunday School, working with the women’s ministry, and serving wherever needed. But following Ray’s death in 1963, Evelyn and her girls moved back to Toccoa where she was employed with Coats and Clark and a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church.  In 1970 she married Tut Thomason and lived in Gwinnett County until she moved back to Toccoa in 1998 following Tut’s death. While in Gwinnett, she served as President of Wildwood Garden Club, held various positions in the Beaver Bend Estates Women’s Club, and was a volunteer for several organizations. After moving back to Toccoa, she volunteered with Stephens County Hospital and was a member of Sunnyside Baptist Church. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband and the father of her children, Rev. Ray Rumsey, by her second husband, C.W. “Tut” Thomason, by her son-in-law, Colonel Jim Brinson and by her siblings, Melvin Westmoreland, Ondie Westmoreland, Lloyd Westmoreland, Eva Merck, Thomas Westmoreland, Bernice Westmoreland and Bea Phillips.

Survivors include daughter and son-in-law, Pam and Wayne Phillips of Toccoa; daughter Donna Brinson of Buford, Georgia; step-son, David Thomason of Toccoa; grandchildren, Corey and Renee Phillips, Christopher Brinson, Kimberly Britton, Amanda and Hank Hanff; great-grandchildren, Harper Hanff, Charlie Britton, Jack Britton, Drew Britton, Paige Phillips, Molly Phillips and Ethan Phillips; sister-in-law, Katherine Rumsey of Toccoa; numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Saturday, March 18, 2023, 3 o’clock p.m. in the Hillcrest Chapel of the Acree-Davis Funeral Home with The Reverend Dr. Jesse Colbert officiating and Michael Merck, Evelyn’s nephew, delivering the eulogy.  The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers, Christopher Brinson, Corey Phillips, Hank Hanff, Rick Phillips, Charlie Britton and Jack Britton.

The family will be at their respective homes and will receive friends at the Acree-Davis Funeral Home on Saturday from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.acree-davisfh.com.

Flowers are optional.  Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice in memory of Mrs. Evelyn Rumsey Thomason.

The family wishes to express their thanks to Dr. Jim Wade and the staffs of Stephens County Hospital , The Clary Center, Tugalo Home Health and Amedisys Hospice for the care given to their loved one. 

Interment will follow in the Stephens Memorial Gardens with the Acree-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory in charge of the arrangements for Mrs. Evelyn Rumsey Thomason.