Alma Pauline Thomas Mickens went to be with Lord at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in the tender care of Enchanted Arms Assisted Living, which is owned and operated by her devoted sister Delores Pierce in Richmond, Virginia and Bon Secours Hospice. She showed great strength through challenging illness, and we praise God that she is whole again in Heaven.

Alma was born on March 30,1930, in File, Virginia, to the late Clinton Todd Thomas and Laura Vessels Thomas. She gave her life to Christ at a young age, and was a lifelong member of Jerusalem Baptist Church, Sparta, Virginia, where over the years she served as Church Clerk, Chairperson of the Missionary Society, a member of the Pastor's Aid Club, and greatly enjoyed teaching Sunday School. She also was the first woman to serve as President of the Mattaponi Sunday School Association.

Alma was a graduate of Union High School in Bowling Green, Virginia and Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia, where she earned a bachelor degree in Education and joined Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She had a long career as an educator, teaching elementary through high school in Caroline County, Virginia and Washington, D. C. Public Schools, before and after her retirement in 1983. She and her husband owned a small convenience store in Caroline County for many years, and her hobby was family history and genealogy.

Alma married the late Edmond Raliff Mickens, Jr. on December 19, 1953, and he was the love of her life for 52 years of marriage, until his death in August 2006. She was a loving mother, and leaves cherished memories with her daughters, Meta Mickens-Baker and husband Keith Baker of Bloomington, Illinois, Marla Mickens Wyche and husband Cory Wyche, Sr. of Richmond, Virginia; five grandchildren, Cameron and Christian Baker, and Cory Jr., Courtney, and Corrine Wyche; and goddaughter Sharon Johnson Harvey of Richmond, Virginia. She is also survived by a sister, Delores Pierce; two brothers, Kenneth Sterling Taylor and Jessie Minor; sisters-in-law, Jane Woolfolk, Elaine Mickens, Sarah Anderson (Douglas) and Beverly Anderson; close friends Teresa Crutcher and Cookie Beasley; and a host of beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her brother Warren Thomas, Sr. and sister Catherine Taylor.

A viewing will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 8, 2016 at Jerusalem Baptist Church, 21180 Bagby Road, Bowling Green, Virginia with family receiving friends and her sisters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Also a viewing will be held 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 a.m. on Saturday at the church.

A celebration of life will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, July 9, 2016 at the above church with the Reverend Jared Beasley delivering the eulogy. Interment will follow at Signal Hill Memorial Park, Hanover, Virginia. Family and friends are invited to the repast at Providence Baptist Church, 9491 Providence Church Road, Ashland, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Alma Mickens memory to Enchanted Arms Assisted Living, 3708 Creighton Road, Richmond, Virginia 23223 or Bon Secours Hospice, online at www.bsvaf.org/supporthospice or mail to the Bon Secours Richmond Foundation, 7229 Forest Avenue, Suite 200, Richmond, Virginia 23226