Hinds County Chancellor Dewayne Thomas died on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at his home in Byram. He was 72.
Authorities said that his sudden death appeared to be from natural causes.
Lakewood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Judge Thomas was the longest currently serving chancellor of the Fifth Chancery Court of Hinds County. He began his service on the Court in 2007. He previously served in the Mississippi House of Representatives for nine years, representing House District 71, and he served as Assistant County Attorney in Hinds County for 11 years. He began practicing law in 1980.
Hinds County chancellors and court staff were among colleagues and friends who gathered at Judge Thomas’ home Wednesday evening. They are heartbroken.
Chancellor Crystal Wise Martin said later, “Tonight, the Hinds County Chancery Court family has lost one of our own. Hinds County has lost a dedicated public servant, and so many of us have lost a colleague and friend whose presence cannot simply be replaced.”
Judge Wise Martin said, “I had the privilege of knowing Judge Thomas for many years, and I knew him not only as an exceptional jurist, but as a genuinely good, decent and kind man. His legal acumen and intellect were evident to everyone who entered his courtroom, but what I will remember most is the person behind the robe. He treated people with dignity. He was thoughtful, approachable, and kind, and he carried himself with a quiet strength that earned the respect of his colleagues, attorneys, court staff and the citizens he served.”
Judge Wise Martin said, “Judge Thomas understood that the decisions made in Chancery Court are about much more than cases on a docket. They affect families, homes, livelihoods, and most importantly, children. He had a particular passion for ensuring that children were supported and protected, and that commitment was reflected throughout his service on the bench.”
She said, “Judge Thomas leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond the opinions he rendered or the cases he decided. His legacy lives in the people he helped, the families he served, the attorneys and judges he influenced, and the example he set for those who were blessed to serve alongside him.”
Retired Hinds County Chancellor Denise Owens said, “I had the privilege of serving with Judge Thomas on the Chancery bench for 16 years. He was an extraordinary judge who cared about people and especially children and those who are vulnerable. As a Senior Judge, he carried that concern to the people that worked with him.”
Judge Owens said, “Chancellors are often referred to as the ‘king’s conscience’ because the king’s job was to ensure that the children, orphans and widows were protected and treated fairly. In other words, Judge made sure those without a voice were heard. He also was an astute judge, rendering many opinions on constitutional, administrative, and corporate issues.”
She said, “For him, being judge was a calling. The only thing that he was not impartial about was his Ole Miss football team.”
Judge Thomas was an ardent, lifelong Ole Miss fan, proudly wearing Rebel red and blue, down to his socks.
Judge Thomas earned a B.B.A. degree from the University of Mississippi in 1977 and a juris doctor from Mississippi College School of Law, now Mississippi Christian University School of Law, in 1980.