Willie Rogers Thomas known to most as Beamon was born February 27, 1942 to Oscar and Annie Sue Thomas in Greensboro Georgia. He loved Greensboro and never wanted to leave but decided for a better future and in the 1960’s Chicago, IL was his destination of choice of course his two big brothers being there helped with the choice. After a few years in the city, he thought what would make this better, I know I’ll get me a girl from Greensboro to go on this journey with me, so he put his future wife on the bus to join him. Willie and Susie were married in 1965 and from this union they had three children, Cassandra, Vanessa and Rogers.

By the mid 80’s his heart still longed for his beloved Greene County and like Gladys Knight said he took the midnight train to Georgia. He was home again. He started working for the City of Greensboro and was a permanent fixture in the city limits for many years until he retired. Willie had many loves some of which were cooking, music, westerns (on repeat), yard work, game shows, CNN, Sports and at the very top of that list was FAMILY. If you were blessed to spend time with him his way of thinking kept you on your toes, he was quick witted and knew how to put things in a way that only he could, little gems of life that me and my sister lovingly refer to as “beamonisms”. Most of us were never called by our given name but by the name he gave us as he was the “king of nicknames” and if you were lucky enough to get one cherish it because I wish I could hear mine just one more time. He wasn’t a very big man in stature, but his personality made him a giant among men. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews and friends.