A celebration of the life of
Dr. Thomas Gayle Snowden, will occur on
Friday, December 27, 2024
Omega 09:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
View/Breakfast 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Requiem Mass 11:00 a.m.
African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas
6361 Lancaster Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19151
Interment: Private
OBITUARY FOR REVERAND DR. THOMAS GAYLE SNOWDEN
Reverends Dr. Thomas Gayle Snowden was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 7,
1938. He was the only child of Thomas Royster and Susan Mae Coston. After Thomas Royster
passed away in 1940, Susan Mae Coston raised young Thomas herself until 1942, when she met
and married a local businessman, Daniel Snowden, who raised young Thomas as his own son;
both Susan Mae Coston and young Thomas adopted the Snowden name. Thomas Gayle
Snowden was educated in the schools of the Philadelphia Public School system beginning with
George Brooks Elementary, Sayre Junior High School and graduating from West Philadelphia
High School in 1956.
Upon graduation from high school, he matriculated to Paine College in Augusta, Georgia in the
Spring of 1957. It was at Paine College that Thomas Gayle Snowden met the love of his life,
Leatrice Joy Tompkins, from North Augusta, South Carolina. They were married on July 18,
1960 and remained together for 63 years. During his tenure at Paine College, Thomas Gayle was
a stalwart member of both the football and track teams and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in
Sociology in 1961.
He was accepted into the Howard University School of Divinity and graduated in 1964 with a
Master’s of Divinity in 1964. During this time, he was ordained twice: once as a Deacon in 1962,
and again in 1964 as a Reverend. After graduation from Howard Divinity school, Thomas Gayle
pastored a small church in Sharptown, Maryland and then received a fellowship to study at the
University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada from 1965-1967.
Thomas returned to Philadelphia in May of 1967 and was installed as the Pastor of Tioga United
Methodist Church, a position he served until 1969. From there, Thomas served as Pastor of
Fletcher Memorial United Methodist Church until the Church burned down in the latter part of
1969. Subsequently, Thomas led the parishioners to worship with the congregation of Mary A.
Simpson United Methodist Church, which then became Simpson-Fletcher United Methodist
Church.
In 1971, Thomas served as the Director of the Carver Community Center in Norristown,
Pennsylvania. During this time, Thomas also joined the faculty of Montgomery County
Community College, (MCCC) where he would remain tor over 27 years. During this time, Dr.
Thomas earned a PhD in Sociology & Philosophy of Religion/Esoteric Studies from Sussex
Graduate School, Sussex England, United Kingdom (UK) in 1972. Dr. Thomas retired from
MCCC as a Professor Emeritus in 1998. Dr. Thomas also taught as an Adjunct Professor at
several Colleges/Universities in the Philadelphia are including, St. Joseph’s University,
Gwynedd-Mercy College; Chestnut Hill College, and Lincoln University.
In 2003, Dr. Thomas formed and established a consulting firm, T. Gayle Associates, for the
purpose of the development of Afrocentric and Pan-African studies for public schools in the
Philadelphia area and Rites-of-Passage programs for Church & Civic organizations.
He was the author of several articles and four (4) books, including: Philosophy & The Human
Encounter; Race & Class (with Van Bird & Edward, Sims, Jr.; Black Nomads in the Urban
Centers (with Edward Sims, Jr), and Black Family Rituals (with Edward Sims, Jr,).
He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Leatrice Joy, and is survived by his children,
Dr. Thomas Evans, Dr. Daniel Eugene, and Carol-Lynn and, his grandchildren, Candice &
Christopher.
