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Remembering the Legacy
Marc Thomas, Founder and CEO of the Sickle Cell Association of Austin-
Marc Thomas Foundation was born May 17, 1958 in Oakland, California. At the
age of 3, Marc was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease. It was during Marc's
high school days that he first met Linda and she became his beloved wife.
Told by doctors he could never marry or have a family, Marc was truly blessed
with three wonderful children; De'drienne, Marc II, and Alysian; he also has a
grandson, Jaelen. His family was his inspiration, motivation and his greatest
joy.
By profession Marc was a payroll and benefits manager for over 20 years. He
was the founder of the Sickle Cell Association of Austin – Marc Thomas Chapter
and the pastor of Foundation of God Ministries in Austin, Texas. Marc noticed a
desperate need in central Texas for advocacy for Sickle Cell patients. Often
persons with Sickle Cell Disease in Austin, had no liaison between some doctors
and themselves to explain the severity of the disease. Sickle Cell Disease often
carried stigmas with which some doctors were ill informed and the level of care for
Sickle Cell patients were inadequate. Marc Thomas became that liaison and
championed for this underrepresented population even with congestive heart
failure, pulmonary hypertension, emphysema and being required to wear oxygen
24 hours per day. He was most recently appointed to the United States
Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Board in our Nation’s capital.
Marc committed his life to serving God, his family, and others. His beautiful
personality, pleasant demeanor, and love for all captured every heart he met. In
recognition and appreciation of his distinguished service, the City of Austin and the
State of Texas honored him with a resolution and declared May 17th Marc Thomas
Day. This is only a small glimpse of what this great man has accomplished
throughout his life for his family, church, businesses, and community. All of his
achievements and endeavors are too numerous to possibly list. Marc committed his
life to serving God, his family, and the betterment of all mankind.
Though he accomplished a great deal, and truly maximized life, his
greatest and proudest accomplishments are his wife of his youth, his three
children, and grandson. His wife describes him as loving, devoted, Godly man
and father. A man of integrity, and a true gentleman, he embodied all that
was good. He passed away at age 46 on May 3, 2005.
Marc Thomas, Founder and CEO of the Sickle Cell Association of Austin-
Marc Thomas Foundation was born May 17, 1958 in Oakland, California. At the
age of 3, Marc was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Disease. It was during Marc's
high school days that he first met Linda and she became his beloved wife.
Told by doctors he could never marry or have a family, Marc was truly blessed
with three wonderful children; De'drienne, Marc II, and Alysian; he also has a
grandson, Jaelen. His family was his inspiration, motivation and his greatest
joy.
By profession Marc was a payroll and benefits manager for over 20 years. He
was the founder of the Sickle Cell Association of Austin – Marc Thomas Chapter
and the pastor of Foundation of God Ministries in Austin, Texas. Marc noticed a
desperate need in central Texas for advocacy for Sickle Cell patients. Often
persons with Sickle Cell Disease in Austin, had no liaison between some doctors
and themselves to explain the severity of the disease. Sickle Cell Disease often
carried stigmas with which some doctors were ill informed and the level of care for
Sickle Cell patients were inadequate. Marc Thomas became that liaison and
championed for this underrepresented population even with congestive heart
failure, pulmonary hypertension, emphysema and being required to wear oxygen
24 hours per day. He was most recently appointed to the United States
Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Board in our Nation’s capital.
Marc committed his life to serving God, his family, and others. His beautiful
personality, pleasant demeanor, and love for all captured every heart he met. In
recognition and appreciation of his distinguished service, the City of Austin and the
State of Texas honored him with a resolution and declared May 17th Marc Thomas
Day. This is only a small glimpse of what this great man has accomplished
throughout his life for his family, church, businesses, and community. All of his
achievements and endeavors are too numerous to possibly list. Marc committed his
life to serving God, his family, and the betterment of all mankind.
Though he accomplished a great deal, and truly maximized life, his
greatest and proudest accomplishments are his wife of his youth, his three
children, and grandson. His wife describes him as loving, devoted, Godly man
and father. A man of integrity, and a true gentleman, he embodied all that
was good. He passed away at age 46 on May 3, 2005.
