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Mrs. Isla Bernice "Bunny" Clanton Thomas, 101, passed from this life peacefully at her residence at The Manor in Florence, SC, on April 4, 2026. A funeral service to honor her life will be held at 3 o'clock on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Wesley Chapel Methodist Church of Lydia. The Rev. Dr. Tim McLendon will officiate, with burial to follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall immediately following the service. The Directors of Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home & Crematory are caring for the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her honor to Wesley Chapel Church of Lydia, P.O. Box 56, Lydia, SC 29079. Bunny was born in Darlington, SC, on February 6, 1925, to the late Isla Blackmon Clanton and the late James Corbett Clanton. She attended Darlington County schools and graduated from Coker College with a degree in Education, and taught in the Lee County public schools. She married her lifelong one and only, the late Henry Timmons "Tim" Thomas, Sr., in 1946 upon his return from service in WWII. They began their life together by renovating the old Cypress Community schoolhouse, where they lived for the next 61 years. They raised three children: Tim Jr. (Wanda) of Darlington, S.C., Nancy (Ray) Oliver of Vance, SC, and the late Jan (Albert) Lynn of Darlington, SC. Bunny and Tim were active in their church, Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church of Lydia, for over fifty years. She taught the Wesley Fellowship class for over 40 years and sang in the church choir. Later, she taught Adult Education classes in Florence County, opening the world of literacy to those who, before, could not read. She described it as one of the most rewarding chapters in her life. As well as full-time Mom duties and being a supportive partner to her husband, she also found time to help in the family business, Clanton's Auto Auction, established by her father in 1946 and operated along with her brothers, JC, Ray, and Laurie Clanton. Bunny was adored by her grandchildren, who affectionately knew her as "Grammy" and loved gathering at she and "Pop T's" for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and whenever. Her grandchildren, Trey Thomas, the late Clant Thomas, Nance (Thomas) Lowry, Les (Page) Oliver, Bert (Maggie) Lynn, and Cooper (Sydney) Lynn, have accounted for her nine great-grandchildren: Cole, Adelyn, Asher, Lucy, Annie, Henry, Isla, Tate, and Christian. Bunny was never happier than when she and Pop T, in matching aprons, were in the kitchen cooking for this raucous crowd. She was a loving, generous person, a gifted gardener, an amazing whistler, quick-witted, and considered the family wordsmith. She remains undefeated in word definition challenges. She will be greatly missed, and we all thank God for giving her to us for 101 years. The family wishes to thank her dear friends from The Manor and her compassionate caregivers from McLeod Hospice.

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Mrs. Bunny Clanton Thomas

February 6, 1925 - April 4, 2026