Private graveside services for Ruth Kent Thomas, 78, of Gibson were held Thursday, March 23, 2006, at Sallie Hill Cemetery with Harold Lamb and Travis Hannah officiating. She died Tuesday, March 21, at the McDuffie Regional Medical Center, Thomson.

Mrs. Thomas was born in West Virginia and was the daughter of the late Ernest Kent and Gertrude Jenkins Kent. She was the widow of Roy E. "Shorty" Thomas. She was a homemaker and loved the outdoors and gardening. She was of the Baptist faith. Survivors include a son, Roy "Tommy" Thomas, Milledgeville; six daughters, Barbara Chalker, Milledgeville, Linda and Travis Hannah, Greenhill, Ala., Becky Hinton, Thomson, Sandra Kitchens, Stapleton, Cathy and Harold Lamb, Gibson, and Alice and Tim Hardin, Washington; five brothers, William Kent, Ernest Kent Jr., Charles Kent, Glenn Kent, and Jerry Kent, all of Griffin; 16 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Grandsons served as pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimers Association, 1899 Central Avenue, Augusta 30904.

Lowe Funeral Home of Warrenton was in charge of arrangements.