Funeral held for Albany stabbing victim who tried to stop violence - Albany Times Union

ALBANY — At her funeral, 20-year-old Tonette Thomas was remembered as an angel in flashy Jordan sneakers, a hard worker who loved to dance and a friend of 17-year-old murder victim Tyler Rhodes.

A cruel irony hung heavily in the air of Wilborn Temple First Church of God, filled with more than 500 people and dozens of Thomas' classmates from the Albany High School class of 2011. Rhodes' death in a knife attack in a city park in 2011 spurred Thomas to become a member of Stop the Violence youth group, and she ended up being killed in a stabbing rampage.

"We're dying. We have to stop the violence against Albany's teenagers," said friend Amy Quick, 18, a 2012 Albany High graduate who wore a Stop the Violence button and spoke in emotional, occasionally profane language that stirred the funeral goers to tears and a rousing standing ovation.

"I don't want to see people holding grudges against other people anymore," Quick said. "The young men need to stop. Everyone is buggin'. I don't know what's going on. It's like we're dying one a week and this (expletive) hurts."

Thomas was killed in a domestic violence attack at her home on Myrtle Avenue near Lincoln Park on Nov. 26. Her sister, Shaquasia Thomas, 26, and aunt, Gwynn Carter, 43, were seriously injured and remain hospitalized. Michael D. Anderson, 29, of Albany, the ex-boyfriend of Shaqasia Thomas, was charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder.

Family members described Anderson as mentally unstable and said he made repeated menacing phone calls and threatened to kill all three women in the days leading up to the fatal attack, which they said they reported to police.

Thomas was killed trying to protect her sister against Anderson's rampage, according to relatives.

"I walk through the neighborhood, and it's like walking through a graveyard of our young," said a woman who represented Mothers Against Murders and Shootings (MAMAS), a group that hung a banner at a makeshift memorial next to the two-family house where Thomas was found dead in an outdoor passageway.

"We are feeding a garden of evil with the blood of our young and we are responsible," she said in a thunderous voice. "Stop turning your backs. Do something. They are burying each other far too young."

A dozen ministers joined Wilborn's pastor, the Rev. Solomon Dees, on the altar at the "homegoing service" for Thomas. It ran more than two hours and included Scripture readings, sermons, impromptu gospel songs, spontaneous applause and a wide array of T-shirts and sweatshirts that bore pictures of Thomas and her nicknames: "Tweety," "To" and "Toni" (pronounced Toe-NAY).

Her elementary school-age brother, N'A-Je Sprattley, whom she helped raise, was overcome with grief and was taken out of the church and comforted by family members. He came back composed enough to say a few words in remembrance.

"She was very nice and helpful and came to my school," he said.

A group of her high school friends wore blue Yankees baseball caps turned backwards in her honor. They spoke of Thomas through sobs and tears. "She was loving, caring and gentle," said Esther Degannes. "She was the left hand to my right hand. I miss her. Rest in peace, my best cuz."

Thomas studied culinary arts at Schenectady County Community College and was planning to transfer to Hudson Valley Community College to study business finance in the spring. She had worked as a child care provider for the YMCA's after-school program at Arbor Hill Elementary School. She also sold shoes at City Foot Wear on Central Avenue, where she eyed the latest styles and colors of Jordan sneakers.

"She would not want us to be so quiet," said Ernestine Terrell, minister at Call to Pray Ministry in Albany, which Thomas attended. "She loved to dance and celebrate. Let's make some noise for Toni."

"I want to encourage the young people here, if you really want to remember her, take on something that will help someone else," said the Rev. McKinley Johnson, pastor of St. John's Church of God in Christ in Albany. "Extend her life by trying to stop any kind of violence."

Near the end of the service, a family member passed out memorial cards with a glossy color photo of Thomas in a shimmering evening gown, framed by the wings of angels and the words: "She is in a better place. Her heart was right with God."

Thomas was buried at Memory Gardens in Colonie.

pgrondahl@timesunion.com • 518-454-5623 • @PaulGrondahl