Gwendolyn Price

On Friday, July 14, 1950 the late Wallace and Hilda Thomas welcomed their beautiful first-born daughter into the world! This beautiful bundle of joy was a true blessing from God and thus she was called Gwendolyn meaning “blessed.” And with two amazing grandmothers who were both named Marie, the world was introduced to GWENDOLYN MARIE THOMAS. Although her mother loved the beautiful name, she had so intentionally given her, it would rarely be heard and instead replaced by the nickname she preferred – Wendy! “They tell me” Wendy quickly became more than her mother’s first born, she became her little confidant, and big sister to all the little Thomas’ who arrived soon thereafter. Her brother Mike fondly recalls the loving, kind, and most gentle way that his big sister so tenderly cared for him by beating him up on a regular basis. But aside from those gentle sessions—correcting little brother Mike—Wendy was nothing short of a lady epitomized with grace and refinement. Taking after her grandmothers, she loved the finer things in life, beautiful clothes, gorgeous hats and shoes, gourmet chocolates, and fine dining. From Cherry Hill and Calverton Heights to the Halls of Western High School, everyone knew and loved her elegance, beauty and most infectious smile. At a young age she wed the late Oakley Bailey and from this union her firstborn son Ray entered the world. And with the birth of this 6-month premature 3-pound baby boy she discovered her greatest role in life. Wendy became the ultimate MOTHER! In 1973 Wendy married the recently deceased Thaddeus Price, Sr. Not long thereafter she, along with her mother and siblings were drawn to the incomparable ministry of the late Chief Apostle Monroe R. Saunders, Sr. and by 1974 she was baptized in Jesus’ Name, filled with the Holy Ghost and had made the Transformation Church of Jesus Christ (formerly First United Church) her home! In fact, seeing Wendy, her Mother Hilda Thomas, and Sister Valerie Dease strut into church together each Sunday morning with a smile became a bit of a Transformation Church tradition! She would later describe that era to me as one of the greatest seasons of her life! She married the absolute love of her life, Thaddeus Sr., she fell deeply in love with the lover of her soul, The LORD Jesus Christ, and she began multiplying in Motherhood. Speaking of multiplying, Wendy and Thaddeus were quite fruitful as they produced, and reproduced, and reproduced some more. One day they decided that with so many little reproductions under the roof, Wendy would leave her long standing career with the government and begin a new career as a full time Homemaker! And Wendy became the “Neighborhood Mom,” ultimate school volunteer, parent helper to all in need and President of not one, not two, but three different school PTA groups simultaneously. She became so engrossed in her role of Motherhood, parenting and serving that she gained a new nickname and the lasting handle “Ms. PTA”! She eventually earned her first degree in early childhood education. And once she supported five of her children in receiving their degrees from her beloved Morgan State University, they in turn watched with tear filled eyes as she proudly donned that orange and blue and made one of her dreams come true. But with all that could be said about this amazing woman we called Wendy, one-word bests sums her up, LOVE! I can think of no other human who better epitomized the word Love. Our Wendy walked in compassion, generated grace, magnified mercy, and lived in faith, was generous to a fault, and gave all that she had. Wendy was self-LESS beyond measure, loved unconditionally, supported others with fervor, followed peace with all; she walked, talked, and thought like JESUS! Without question, she was the apple of God’s eye! On leap year day our beloved Wendy left this body and returned to GLORY! And in the presence of her Lord, she has reunited with her beloved husband Thaddeus L. Price, Sr., son Raymont, Parents, Sisters, Grandparents and the cloud of sainted witnesses cheering her remaining loved ones on. And left here to grieve our loss as we celebrate her life and memory, are a host of friends, cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren and loved ones including her brothers and sisters in love Mr. Luther Dease, Ms. Michelle Smith, Ms. Jerri Thomas, Dr. Iantha Tucker, Dr. Jannette Dates (Victor), Dr. Mabel Murray (Ted), Mrs. Cheryl Weatherford (Daniel), Brothers Mr. Cornell Thomas, (Margaret), Mr. Rodney Thomas (Zina), Mr. Bradley Thomas (Cissy), Mr. Michael Thomas, Grandchildren, Dylan Horton, Jaxen Price, Dallas Horton, Jadaya Price, Devin Singh III, and Geoffrey M. Price. Finally, her children: Oladipo J. - the son she chose- Justin, the last she bore, Jenae – the daughter she desired, Jason – the son who bears her beloved husband’s image, Geoffrey – her rebel with the most tender and caring heart, then there’s me, Thaddeus Jr. She was the Queen of my heart, and I served her with all I could and lived to make her smile.

Tributes

Gwendolyn Price

July 14, 1950 - February 29, 2024