Glynda Marie Smith Thomas, 81, of Harvest, passed away October 3, 2025.  Glynda was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce Thomas (1965) and her parents John Calvin and Gertrude Smith.

Glynda was born in her grandmother's home in Harvest, Alabama.  She graduated from Sparkman High School and went to work at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in 1960.  She worked there for 40 years and retired in 2000.

She is survived by her son, John Thomas and his wife Wanda.  Troy Gray (Emily/Miss B) step grandson and other family members.

During Glynda's 40 years at NASA, she witnessed some interesting and historical events.  She was one of many that stood on the side of the road and waved as John F Kennedy drove by in a convertible while visiting Redstone Arsenal.  She was given the opportunity to attend several space shuttle launches during her time at NASA.  She was honored many times for her service at NASA over the years and met many astronauts during her time.  Her last office at NASA was located next to the office that Warner Von Braun used when he worked there.

In her younger years, she was a member at Harvest Baptist church and then was a long-time member of Wall Highway Baptist church and her current church was Lindsay Lane East.  Glynda loved the Lord and served him in many ways throughout her lifetime. While at Wall Highway Baptist, she and Bruce were involved in the bus ministry and lead the Happy Hearts (Senior Adult group).  She loved working with the children at Sunday School.  Her favorite music was the old hymns and loved hearing Kevin, her nephew, sing.

Family and friends were important to Glynda.  She always had to make sure that your birthday was extra special by planning a special trip to a Tea Room, inviting the birthday angels and even a magician one year for John's birthday.  During holidays, you didn't eat on paper plates.  We had to get the good stuff out to eat on and drink from.  Glynda was a gracious and loving daughter, mother and wife.  She took care of Gertrude many years after Calvin passed.

One of the things that she was well known for is her desserts.  Coconut and chocolate pies and coconut cakes were her specialties.  Every Christmas it was divinity that she would make for everyone.  If she knew anyone that needed anything she was the first to help and be there to support them.

Glynda was diagnosed with dementia in 2019. When Bruce passed, she moved in with Wanda and John.  For the past 4 ½ years, she attended ChristyCare Senior Adult Daycare during the week while Wanda and John were working.  She loved going there, that was her new job. She would wipe tables down, hand out plates, and fold napkins.  She was still being that servant to others even when she couldn't remember.  ChristyCare was a great place for Glynda because they would do crafts, exercise, have parties for all holidays but her favorite time was music because they would play gospel music a lot of days.  If Amazing Grace was playing, Glynda would be singing or humming to the melody.

In lieu of flowers, Glynda requested that a donation could be made to her home church in honor of her.  Also, a donation to ChristyCare or Hospice (Compassus) can be made.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 7th, from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Berryhill Funeral Home. A funeral service will immediately follow. Interment will take place at Huntsville Memory Gardens.