Thomasina Margretta Hannah Canty, the fifth child of seven, was born to the late Henry B. Hannah and Nettie Thomasina Gibbs Hannah, on January 22, 1927.

The verse from Ephesians 4:15 (KJV), "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ," was a light to Thomasina and how she chose to live her life. She was a member of St. Paul Episcopal Church where she served on the altar guild and taught Sunday School.

Her parents encouraged their children to pursue education. Thomasina was educated at Beach-Cuyler High School in Savannah, Georgia. After graduation from high school she attended Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, earning her Bachelor's in Education. She moved to Lansing where she furthered her education at MSU, receiving a Master's in Education.

She taught in the elementary schools for 40 years. Her career has taken her to Lexington, Kentucky; Marietta, Georgia; and Lansing where she retired from the Lansing Public School District on June 1, 1993 with a Certificate of Merit.

She was an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Lansing Chapter, giving exemplary service on many committees and in leadership positions. Other community involvement included Sparrow Hospital gift shop and the Wharton Center gift shop.

She leaves to treasure her memory: sister, Cassie Williams of New York; nephews, Bingley Hannah of Savannah, Georgia and Frank Hannah of Lansing; nieces, Sheila Johnson-Munyer of North Carolina, Gayle Johnson of New York and Damita Canty of Boston, Massachusetts; grandniece, Kourtney Hannah of Lansing; grandnephew, Leon Hood of Savannah, Georgia; and many god children and friends.