Tamaki Thomas was the first lady of Second Baptist Church of Wayne, Pa.

Thomas died on Feb. 29, 2012. She was 90.

She was born to Sanjiro and Hatsu Morita in Toyama Ken, Japan, on Jan. 22, 1922.

Thomas lived in Yokohama, Japan, where she graduated from business school. She studied English as a second language. While in Yokohama she fell in love and married a young soldier named Raymond Thomas. They married at the American Consulate in Japan on Dec. 12, 1951, and some years later left for the United States.

Thomas was an ardent seamstress and tailor. With God’s gift of her beauty and her penchant for fashion she soon began modeling.

As first lady of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Glassboro, N.J., and Second Baptist Church, Wayne, Pa., the success of her husband Rev. Raymond Thomas became her primary ministry.

She was a deaconess who loved children and taught vacation Bible school and crafts. She was a mentor and encourager of women, especially preachers’ wives. Unknown to many was her beautiful voice and worshipful spirit of praise. One of her favorite songs was “He Touched Me.” Her life verse was Hebrew 13:8 — Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Raymond Thomas, pastor of Second Baptist Church of Wayne, Pa.; six brothers and sisters in Japan; a goddaughter, Lisa Rogers; and an extended church family.

Services will be held March 7 at Second Baptist Church, 246 Highland Avenue, Wayne, Pa. Viewing is from 9 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. Services will follow at 11. Burial will be held March 8 at 11 a.m. in Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Newtown Square, Pa.

The DeBaptiste Funeral Homes Inc. of West Chester and Bryn Mawr handled the arrangements.