The sun rose on the beautiful life of Joan Agatha Jackson, born on 08 June 1942 on the island of St. John and grew up in the Hard Labor and John’s Folly areas of Coral Bay. She is the 4^th of six children born to Alvara M. Jackson (a wonderful Cook at home and at the school), and Reuben I. Jackson (a Boat Captain, Fisherman, Public Works Laborer, and Head Start Bus Monitor).

Joan’s family consisted of brother Louis I. Jackson (deceased), and sisters Vivian (deceased as an infant), Lillian N. Plaskett (deceased), Ruth E. Vanterpool, and Hilda I. Anthony, and an extended family of numerous nieces and nephews, and many great-nieces and great-nephews.

Mrs. Thomas became the wife of Rudolph A. "Pimpy" Thomas, Jr. (Army Veteran, and Water Delivery Pioneer) (deceased Jul 2016) and from this marriage they have two daughters, Beverly A. Hendricks Adams (nee Thomas), (husband Lincoln Adams), and Brenda A. Thomas Olague. She has five (5) grandsons, Khye A. Hendricks, Kamal A. Hendricks, and Kaleem A. Hendricks, Khiry A. B. Arnold, and Kamai A. M. Guillory, eighteen (18) great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren whom she loved very much. Her children by marriage are Beverly LaVerne Thomas-Delsol, Byron V. Thomas, and Lee V. Thomas.

She learned how to play piano and organ, from Bill LaMotta, and blessed the Calvary Baptist Church in Coral Bay, for many years with her many talents, skills, and abilities as a pianist, organist, and teacher. 

She graduated from Charlotte Amalie High School in St. Thomas as a proud member of the class of 1961. She also attained an Associate of Arts Degree in 1984, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration in 1987, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration in 1992.

Starting in 10^th Grade she worked for Division of Personnel, Director of Budget Office, Lieutenant Governor's Office, Department of Social Welfare, Department of Public Safety/Virgin Islands Police, on St. John, VI (for 32 years), and then concluded her career as a Commissioner for the Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission from 1996 to 1999. She also managed her husband’s water delivery business.

On the evening of 19 September 2026, in Raeford, North Carolina, the sun set on the amazing life of Commissioner Joan A. Thomas. She now rests peacefully among the Ancestors.