Damon L. Thomas

Damon Lamar Thomas, 44, of Lithonia, GA passed away October 10, 2021.

Damon Lamar Thomas, the eldest child of Toni and James Wardell Thomas was born on November 16, 1976 in Detroit, MI.

Damon was a sweet child who loved spending time with his parents. Although he had a quiet disposition, it never stopped him from respectfully and unapologetically speaking his mind. His childhood on his beloved Glastonbury Street was filled with the love of family, music and the regular company of his cousins Monica, Al, Raul (who preceded him in death) and Emilio. They were his siblings until his later years when he became the proud big brother of Brian and Brittany.

Damon began his education at Saint Mary’s of Redford Catholic School. He was a quiet student with a love for learning. Following his primary education, he went on to attend Cass Technical High School. It was at Cass where he first developed a passion and love for photography. After graduating from high school in 1994, Damon struck out on his own waving goodbye to Detroit and moving to Atlanta, GA where he embarked on a new journey as a student at Clark Atlanta University (CAU). Damon majored in Mass Communications with a concentration in radio, television, and film. CAU was Damon’s home away from home. He thrived at CAU as a member of the Orientation Guide Core, and various other campus organizations. He was also a well-known leader in the Mass Media Arts department. It was during this time Damon not only honed his skills as a master editor, photographer and videographer, as well as mentored others in reaching their full potential. Damon graduated from Clark Atlanta University in 1998.

Damon’s talents and skills continued to expand and flourish upon graduating from CAU as he formed his first production company President Thomas Forbes with his longtime friend Dorian Forbes. Together Damon and Dorian created a full-length feature film and an extensive list of visuals for some of the most well-known names in Hip Hop today. It was in fact his love for Hip Hop and his connection to CAU that would lead him to the woman he would marry.

Damon married Telese Calloway on September 17, 2011 on a beach in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. A long-distance friendship had emerged into a deep love and union always cherished by them both.

Damon spent the next stage of his life living his love of film, music and photography when he started his solo production company, Eleven16 Media. Eleven16 Media captured life in the form of weddings, business developments, emerging entrepreneurs, and of course many up and coming musicians and artists.

Damon gave his all to those who were attempting to make a difference in this world. Service to others was in Damon’s soul. It shined ever so brightly in his dedication to his community through the nonprofit organization CashMobATL in which he started to support Black-owned businesses. And no one can forget his continued commitment to mentorship of the MMA department at CAU.

In his final years, Damon found love and family in Deanna Williams and her daughters, Bryelle and Bryanna. In the last four years they enjoyed and created many memories. Damon loved and adored being a bonus dad to Bryelle and Bryanna. He could always be found doing small thoughtful things for them to make them smile.

He leaves to cherish his memory his parents, Toni and James Thomas, his brother Brian, his sister Brittany (Chris), his former wife, Telese Calloway Thomas, his domestic partner Deanna Williams, his bonus daughters Bryelle and Bryanna and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.