Obituary: Bobby Mahlon Thomas

Bobby Mahlon Thomas, 78, of Cumming, Ga passed away January 6th, 2025 after a courageous battle with cancer. Bobby was born and raised in Cumming, Ga to the late Katie Lee (Burruss) and Mahlon Cleo “Doodler” Thomas, on November 3, 1946. Bobby was a lifelong resident of Forsyth County, living most of his life in Coal Mountain. He graduated from Forsyth County High School in 1964 being voted “Most Likely to Succeed” for his graduating class. His first step towards being successful was graduating from Georgia Tech in 1969 with a degree in Industrial Engineering, which he was the first in his family to graduate from college. While at Georgia Tech, he met the love of his life, Brenda Pugh Thomas from Dawson County whom he would marry 3 years later.

After college Bobby enlisted in the United States Navy as an officer. The US Navy commissioned him to be a supply officer serving on a destroyer. During this time in the Navy he and Brenda lived in Jacksonville, FL and Glasboro, NJ. While Bobby learned a lot about being a leader in the Navy he always wanted to be his own boss. Soon after his honorable discharge he decided to enter the family lumber business his grandfather, George Thomas, started in 1927. Bobby bought into the business in 1973 and soon set his sights on being an industry leader. By the mid 1980’s, Thomas Lumber Company, under his leadership, became the leader in manufacturing western red cedar products throughout the southeast. He worked passionately at Thomas Lumber up until the day of his death. Prior to this he loved to boast about Thomas Lumber Company being the oldest, family-owned business in Forsyth County. Even in his last minutes of life he talked about Thomas Lumber celebrating 100 years of business in the same location since 1927.

Bobby was very active in the community leadership around Forsyth County. Some of his roles in making his community better were becoming one of the first members and a future president of the Rotary Club of Forsyth County, served as a 30 plus year member and leader of the Development Authority of Forsyth County, and one of the founders of The Peoples Bank of Forsyth County and Jefferson State Bank. When People’s Bank was sold to First National Bancorp, he served on the Board of Directors. He was an active member of Oak Grove Baptist Church where he served as church clerk and Sunday School teacher, and he was a 51 year member of Lafayette Lodge #44.

Bobby loved to travel, go salmon fishing, study the history of WW2, drive fast cars, attending sports car races, and be a model father/grandfather to his children and grandchildren. His travels around the world brought him to his favorite place to relax, Montana. When there, he became “Montana” Bobby, where he would relax and say yes to whatever the grandkids wanted.

From an early age Bobby had his goals set on making sure he, his family and his friends all were successful in life. When he set out to achieve these goals for everyone he cherished, he did it to be the best and to do the job right. When he spoke everyone around him knew he was speaking with truth and about what is right. This attitude and determination were followed with a heart of gold to those who needed his help. Throughout his life he quietly helped many without asking anything in return. He had the “Midas Touch” with being an inspiration for all those who knew him and loved him. Bobby’s legacy lives on through his loving wife of 57 loving years, Brenda Pugh Thomas; Children, Dr. Melissa (Bert) Durand, Seth (Resa) Thomas; Grandchildren, Emily and Thomas Durand, Adelyn and James Thomas; sisters Marie (Sonny) Moore, Kathy (Ken) Millen; brother, Johnny (Cindy) Thomas.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Bobby’s honor to: Rotary Club of Forsyth County Charities, Inc. Challenge Scholarship Program PO Box 57 Cumming, GA 30028

Source: Thomas Lumber Company