James "Tim" Virgen Thomas Jr. was an activist and community organizer. Born May 20, 1944 in Augusta, Georgia, Tim was the only child of Elizabeth and James Thomas.  He spent his early years in Augusta (where he was known by relatives as “Jackie”) and later moved to Wilmington, Delaware.

After graduating from high school, Tim joined spent three years in the U.S. Army, where he received a National Defense Service Medal for Marksmanship. Upon leaving the Army, Tim moved to Washington D.C. where he was heavily influenced by civil rights leaders, such as Stokley Carmichael. In D.C., he began work that became a 45 year career. He was a founding member and leader of the Student Organization for Black Unity (SOBU).

After D.C., Tim moved to Chicago where he was active in the League of Revolutionary Struggle (LRS). In the late 80s, Tim settled in Oakland and continued to work on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised – notably with the Berkley Food and Housing Project, the Emergency Services Network of Oakland (ESN), and Habitat for Humanity.

Tim died on April 11 of a heart attack in his East Oakland home. He is survived by his daughter M’Balia Thomas who lives in Lawrence, Kansas, his son Stephan Michael Thomas, who is a lawyer in Seattle, daughter-in-law Angeline, grandson Xavier, extended relatives in Georgia, and a host of friends in California, Delaware, North Carolina, DC and Kansas City and beyond.  He will be remembered as a dedicated activist, a lover of books, and a man who never forgot his connection to the Deep South. 

Corrections and additions to this working tribute to Tim can be emailed to M'Balia Thomas (mbthomas@email.arizona.edu).