Faye R. Thomas

(Durham, NC) – Faye Redfearn Thomas, 72, passed away on March 12, 2022, after a brave battle with cancer. Faye passed away peacefully, surrounded by family.  

She was born on February 16, 1950, in Camden, SC, to the late Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Joe Redfearn.

Faye graduated from Winthrop University. She married her high school sweetheart, Clay Thomas, before settling in Durham, N.C. in 1971 to raise her family. An elite tennis player, Faye set about changing the landscape of tennis in Durham with her welcoming and kind presence, her unfailingly positive attitude, and her keen eye for detail. She coached the Jordan High School tennis team from 1976 to 1980 and taught tennis lessons at Hollow Rock Racquet Club for over four decades. 

As a player, Faye won many singles titles in local and national play. She was equally gifted in doubles and mixed doubles, claiming innumerable mixed doubles trophies with her husband, Clay. Faye and her daughter, Scotti, won two National Mother/Daughter Championships and achieved the number one overall national ranking in 1995. In 2017, she was honored by the N.C. Tennis Association with the Mary Milam award for her lifetime contributions to the game.

Off the court, Faye was a force of positivity and optimism. She was famous for her lasagna and chocolate cake. She dearly loved family beach trips to Emerald Isle, golfing with Clay and the many travels and adventures she shared with her children and grandchildren.  

Words cannot express how much Faye meant to so many people. Her vitality, zest for living, and sincere interest in the lives of her family and friends forged lifelong friendships beyond number. She faced her battle with cancer with equal positivity, dignity, and courage that modeled a life lived to the fullest. In her final days, she welcomed all and rejoiced in storytelling and visits.  

Faye is survived by her husband of 50 years, Clay Thomas of Durham, N.C.; daughter, Scotti Webb and her husband Billy of Salisbury, N.C.; son, Jeff Thomas and his wife Leigh Ann of Charlotte, N.C.; grandchildren, Mimi Webb, Will Webb, Hank Webb, Leigh Thomas, and Sutton Thomas; brothers, Townley Redfearn and his wife Jean, Joe Redfearn and his wife Salley, both of Camden, S.C.; in-laws, Dale and Sally Evans of Covington, G.A. and Ed and Suzy Rankin of Fairview, N.C., and many nieces and nephews. 

A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 25, 2022, at the University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill, NC, at 2 pm. A reception will immediately follow in the Fellowship Hall. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Caring House, Inc, 2625 Pickett Road Durham, NC 27705. https://caringhouse.org/donate

Arrangements are under the care of Hall Wynne Funeral Service, Durham, NC