08/09/2026
JT was one of our original Tops’y’s and absolutely the best! Heaven gained a true character and he will definitely be missed! War Damn Eagle 🦅 💙🧡💔 & I know he will always be looking over us!
Joseph “JT” Thomas (June 25, 1960- August 6, 2026) Aubie II 1980-81
My memories of JT are a bit different than many who knew and loved him down here. I met him In the tuba section of the Auburn Band Alumni weekend and pretty much hired him to come join my recreation team at Tops’l Beach & Racquet Resort in summer of 2002! I needed someone to help me bring my new turtle mascot to life & he was just the guy. We have traveled together to Mascot night at the Ice Pilots (now Flyers) in Pensacola on several different years, Auburn games for FOA reunions, and just to go cheer! We’ve watched many Auburn games together but we both weren’t great in a public setting if they were losing…so we did better at my house!!
His life was lived BIG - after he was a friend of Aubie at Auburn University (Aubie II…80-81), he became close with Hugo the Charlotte Hornet (designed by Jim Henson’s daughter, Cheryl in 1988), then did some work as Gonzo with the muppets & I think he filled in for the voice of Kermit the Frog at some time, and from there he set off to travel the world as Globie with the Harlem Globetrotters!
He had lots of life challenges and he maneuvered them his way and with a smile on his face! My life was busy with work, grad school or university, faculty issues, and family - JT always was there to listen and guide me to do the right thing! He was great with the weather as well as always informed me of news, especially local, Auburn football, or storms! Many people said it was hard to keep up with him because he didn’t always live by his phone… I have no idea how many phones I gave him! 😂 I could always find him and I would FaceTime to whoever was looking for him…they would know to reach out to me. It might take me a day or two, but I typically knew where he was.
I’m so proud of him in the last year…he managed his finances once he got SSI and he booked his doctor appointments. He liked relationship banking, not online apps. He loved his TV and his shows, and he never let me have him miss Lynn’s quarterly yard sale up in DeFuniak! He checked on me last fall during my surgeries and he was a person that lived his life to love and not just be alive!
Thank you all who have helped support him, share stories with him or listen to all of his, and if you would like to come tailgate with us in celebration of his life:
JT’s Beach Tailgate & Sunset “Celebration of Life” Ceremony will be held on
Thursday, August 13th
Location: Beachwood Villas Neighborhood Beach Access #15
Tailgate: 6 pm CT
Ceremony: 7pm CT; led by Pastor Brad Goode
Please join us at JT’s (& Carrot’s) favorite spot* for a beach tailgate at 6 pm where we’ll be sharing our favorite JT stories over cold beverages & toasting to the joy & light he shared with the 30A community through the years. Following the tailgate will be a “Celebration of Life” ceremony at sunset led by Pastor Brad Goode of 30A’s Good News Church.
Attire: Big Hearts, Warm Smiles, & Casual, Comfortable Clothing (Especially Orange & Navy 🐅).
*Parking is limited; we’ll provide an update with some options/alternatives asap.
