13 November ICC Mourns the Passing of Longtime Communications Director Donna Thomas November 13, 2025 By Camp, Tyler W General 0 Itawamba Community College is mourning the loss of one of its most devoted and influential team members, Donna Thomas of New Albany, who dedicated more than 55 years of service to the college and touched countless lives through her professional excellence, mentorship and quiet acts of kindness. Thomas, who began her ICC career on January 15, 1970, faithfully served six of the college’s seven presidents, building a legacy that spanned generations. Over her distinguished tenure she held numerous leadership positions including adult basic education newspaper editor, continuing education director, director of publications, director of media relations and most recently director of communications. She also served as a journalism instructor, mentoring students through her advisement of The Chieftain, ICC’s student newspaper, and The Mirror, the college yearbook, both of which earned multiple top awards from the Mississippi Press Association and the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi (CPRAM). Her influence extended well beyond the classroom and the campus. Thomas was an active member for more than 30 years in both the CPRAM and the Mississippi Community College Alumni and Advancement Association, serving in leadership roles and earning statewide recognition for her excellence in public relations and communications. She served as a dedicated board member for the ICC Alumni Association. After retiring from full-time service in 2013, Thomas returned to ICC just three months later, proving that her devotion to the college was more than a career; it was a calling. Though officially a part-time employee, her colleagues often joked that she never really retired. She continued to volunteer countless hours each week to support ICC’s communications efforts and to preserve its history, serving faithfully until her passing. In recognition of her unmatched dedication, Thomas was honored as the first recipient of ICC’s Golden Employee Award and later received the Distinguished Service Award in 2023. “Donna Thomas was part of the very fabric of Itawamba Community College,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “Her dedication, her attention to detail and her servant’s heart defined what it means to live out ICC’s mission every day. She didn’t just work here, she built a legacy of compassion, commitment and excellence that will continue to inspire us all.” Beyond her professional accomplishments, Thomas was known for her generosity, her heart for service and her love for all things Ole Miss Rebels. She was famous around campus for her random acts of kindness, leaving notes or small gifts for colleagues, bringing treats to the office, quietly paying it forward in the dining hall and supporting virtually every fundraiser that crossed her path. Her selflessness was as constant as her presence and her compassion left a lasting mark on all who knew her. Outside ICC, Thomas was deeply involved in her community. She held leadership positions with numerous civic and service organizations including Pilot Club International, Kappa Kappa Iota, Lioness Club, the Union County Chapter of the American Red Cross, Selective Service and the Literacy Council. A lifelong member of First Methodist Church of New Albany, she taught Sunday school for more than 25 years and served in several administrative and regional church leadership roles. A native of New Albany, Thomas earned her associate degree from Northeast Mississippi Community College and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi. Despite her educational beginnings elsewhere, her heart and her life’s work belonged to ICC. Throughout her more than five decades at ICC, Donna impacted thousands of students, employees and friends who were fortunate enough to know her. Her influence will continue to be felt in the halls she walked, the stories she told and the spirit of service she embodied. Her legacy will live on through the lives she touched and she will never be forgotten. Arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be shared as they are finalized. Related Articles Spotlight: Lab Tech Margie Thomas assists with ICC COVID precautions Margie Thomas now spends her days testing for COVID-19 at the Fulton Campus, a key component of the effort ICC continues to make to keep its community safe. But her career as a medical professional started 10 years ago when she completed a phlebotomy course at ICC. Along the way, she’s also earned PBT American Society for Clinical Pathology certification and a medical transcriptionist certificate. Her career has taken her to the North Mississippi Medical Center where she worked as a phlebotomist technician for six years and to the Magnolia Regional Health Center where she was a PT in the emergency room for two years. In today’s pandemic world, Thomas is now filling a significant need at ICC, where she was employed as the COVID lab technician last October. She clocks in at 8 a.m., Monday through Friday, and then she checks her schedule to see how many appointments she has for the day because “someone could have gotten sick and needs to be tested quickly.” Then she checks to make sure she ... ICC's Thornton selected as member of MAST board of directors Alicia King Thornton of Tupelo, Surgical Technology program director at Itawamba Community College, has been selected as a member of the board of directors for the Mississippi Association of Surgical Technology for a two-year term. A native of Verona, Thornton is a graduate of Shannon High School and ICC (Associate of Arts degree). She was accepted into the Surgical Technology program in the summer of 2012 and earned the Associate of Applied Sciences degree in 2013. Her additional education background includes certification as Surgical First Assistant (training with Baptist Hospital) and the Bachelor of Health Science degree from the University of Mississippi. Her employment history includes Baptist Golden Triangle in Columbus and East Mississippi Community College (Surgical Technology program director). Thornton rejoined the ICC family in 2022 in her current position. Additional memberships include the Association of Surgical Technology, Association of Surgical Assistants and First Baptist Missionary Baptist Church in Aberdeen. She and her husband, Jirmychael, have two sons, Asher, 2; and Ashten, 5 months. The Association of Surgical Technologists was established in 1969 by members of the ... Time to winterize your vehicle...ICC's Automotive Technology program director shares how With a small taste of winter last week but rebounding temperatures, it’s time to winterize our vehicles before the thermometer plummets again. According to Itawamba Community College’s Automotive Technology program director Brad Crowder, it’s best to have your car serviced by a professional for winter conditions. That means to have its battery and coolant tested, inspect the brakes and check belts, hoses, spark plugs, wires and cables. “Battery power decreases as the temperature drops, meaning that it takes more power to start your car in the winter,” Crowder said. As far as coolant, the recommended ratio is between 50/50 and 70/30 of antifreeze to water. “Ask your technician what antifreeze should be used for your vehicle and the appropriate coolant-to-water ratio to prevent against corrosion and potential freezing.” Additional vital steps to take in winterization include inspecting your tires, changing the oil and wiper blades, keeping the washer fluid full and the gas tank at least half full, the front and rear window defrosters in working order and packing a winter safety ... Upton joins ICC staff as director of Advancement Michael Upton of Tupelo has joined the Itawamba Community College staff as Director of Advancement. His previous professional work includes serving as Major Gift Officer/Regional Philanthropy Officer for the Red Cross of Mississippi. Prior to that, he was Director of Development for several areas, including the University Libraries, Center for the Study of Southern Culture, Gertrude C. Ford Center for Performing Arts, University Museum and Historic Houses and the School of Applied Sciences. A graduate of ICC, Upton earned both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Mississippi. Upton will oversee and direct all functions of both the Foundation and Alumni Association through identifying, cultivating, soliciting and managing fundraising, events and principal relationships. “I am confident that Michael brings a wealth of philanthropy experience that will prove to be beneficial to both the ICC Foundation and Alumni Association,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. Area residents join ICC faculty, staff or among reassignments Several area residents have joined the Itawamba Community College faculty and staff and were introduced at the Aug. 10 convocation at the Fulton Campus. They include Baldwyn – Zack Collins, Campus Police officer; Josh Hood, Campus Police officer; Tyrani Key, recruiter; Haley Carpenter, Paralegal Technology program director; Belden – Lesia Rogers, custodian; Blue Springs – Hannah Moroney, recruiter; Corinth – Collin Minga, assistant athletic director/compliance officer; Detroit, Ala. – Scott Stovall, groundskeeper; Fulton – Kelly Beth Ernest, head softball coach; Damon Howe, assistant football coach – offensive line; Kala Hudson, residence hall director; Will Nabors, Campus Police officer; Heidi Riley, residence hall director; Darrian Wilson, assistant men’s basketball coach; Jacob Hayslip, assistant men’s basketball coach; Madison Haley, recruiter; Heather Bolton, custodian; Willie Gunn, custodian; Cecil Lucas, groundskeeper; Deshanna Martin, admissions record specialist; Shannon Gillentine, staff accountant; Dr. Kimberley Poland, Academic Support Center science tutor; Elizabeth Tally, mathematics instructor; Jackie Marquez, administrative assistant – athletics; Golden – Bryan Wood, maintenance supervisor; Greenwood Springs – Chad Price, maintenance technician/electrician; Guntown – Katelynn Stidham, ... ICC releases honors lists for 2020 spring semester Officials at Itawamba Community College have released the honors list for the 2020 spring semester. Named to the president’s list, which includes those students with a 3.8-4.0 grade point average were Aberdeen – Sydney Thomas Allmond, Jaden M. Buchanan, Ashley Gordon Cullum, Michaela Shea Johnson, Treviaris D. Key, Nolan R. Koehn, Nathan A. Mize, Caleb B. Schrock, John Nathan Snider, Ashley Tayte Stevens, Donovan Lewis Turner, Ben Foster Carr, Austin C. Fulgham; Ackerman – Molly E. Oswalt; Amory – Jessica L. Anderson, Peyton Michael Avery, Joseph Allen Axton, Megan A. Ballard, William Stephens Bishop, Jeffrey B. Brown, Karrigan McKenzie Callihan, Paxton Ross Cantrell, Abby Kathryn Clement, Kaylen Elizabeth Colbert, Andrea Claire Crosby, Lauren Riley Crouch, Pamela LaCheryl Dankins, Farrah Eve Fowlkes, Staci Suzanne Fox, Lukecia Lashelle Freeman, Mackenzie Lea Gallop, Marco A. Garza, Logann Michelle Griffith, Kurt Robert Hendrix, Abigail Elizabeth Hitt, Dylan S. Johnson, Cole Andrew Kent, Mattie Lian Knox, Cameron Michael Koehn, Allie Brooke Lindsey, Corbin J. Martin, Makensie Wade Monaghan, Katherine Elizabeth Morgan, Seth Parker Morgan, Bryce Alexander O’Fallon, William Cody ... Comments are closed.