My beloved uncle, Edward Perry Thomas, Jr. was born on Thursday, March 28, 1940 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Edward Perry Thomas, Sr. and Corinne Henderson Carter. He married Martha Ferguson Thomas (my aunt) on Saturday, February 7, 1976 in New Orleans, LA and they welcomed their only child Corinne Carter Thomas (my cousin) on Wednesday, November 21, 1979. He graduated from St. Martin's Episcopal School in New Orleans in 1957 and earned an A.B. in Architecture from Princeton in 1961. After college, Perry served 4 years in the Navy and was part of the original crew of the USS Enterprise. Released from active duty in 1965, he began a lifelong professional odyssey. His innumerable talents and interests lead him to Tulane Architecture School, commercial real estate, marine hardware sales, and graphic design. Long after he and his wife Martha and daughter Carter relocated to Atlanta in 1994, he found his true calling at the age of 72 as a crewmember at Trader Joe's. There he was known as a "pillar of customer relations", knowing nearly every customer by name and turning those relationships into friendships. He claimed it to be the happiest work experience of his life. True to his New Orleans roots, Perry was passionate about music and food. He lived in music from Jim Croce to J.S. Bach and was gifted on the guitar, banjo and piano. Sharing his love language in the kitchen, Perry prepared and consumed food of all varieties, especially Creole, Thai, Indian and Mexican. Most of all, Perry will be remembered for the dancing twinkle in his eyes and a smile that exuded kindness and warmth. He was a nickname affcionado and thrived on making others laugh with his sharp wit and sense of humor. Perry also had an uncanny ability to make anyone feel at home with his gregarious and approachable spirit. Above all, he was a devoted husband and father; he always claimed his girls to be the treasures of his life. He died on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 in Atlanta at the age of 81 and is survived by Martha Ferguson Thomas, his wife of 45 years, their daughter Corinne Carter Thomas, his sister Corinne Thomas Marlow (my mom), his niece, Cristen Carter Maxwell, his nephews Jon Hennen Maxwell and William Thomas Maxwell. He is also survived by his grandkitty Edie. He is gentle on our minds and will stay in our hearts always. A celebration of his life was held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Atlanta on Friday, August 6th at 2:00 PM. MIZPAH: May God keep watch between me and thee while we are apart.