 He was the seventh of seven children.He was married to Charletta C. Thomas, and they had six children, Ted Jr., Christopher, Marc, Charles, Jonathan, and Reuben, and several grandchildren.Licensed to preach in 1959, Ted Thomas Sr. served the Church of God in Christ in varying capacities as a minister of music, pastor of several COGIC churches in Virginia, a State Sunday School Superintendent, a District Superintendent, and an Administrative Assistant to Bishop David C. Love before being elevated to Jurisdictional Prelate of the Virginia First Jurisdiction in 1984.