Emily Jo Cobb-Thomas, 82, of Portsmouth, passed away on Friday, July 24, 2026, at the SOMC Hospice Center. She was born in Portsmouth on October 7, 1943, to the late Ralph A. and Estalene Caudill Horn.
A 1961 graduate of Portsmouth High School, Emily attended Scioto County Technical College and received an Associate Degree in Social Work. She began her career in social work in Portsmouth in 1966, beginning as a receptionist, and after 43 years with Community Action Organization, retiring in 2015 as Director of Social Services Department. In the intervening years, Emily served as the Director of Senior Nutrition, providing meals to the elderly, and was instrumental in establishing fair housing for residents of Farley Square and the Farley Square Tenant Council. For her steadfast work, she was appointed to the Board of Commissioners of the Portsmouth Housing Authority. At the behest of others, Emily assisted with the reorganization of the local NAACP Chapter and was subsequently elected its president.
She was later selected as the Director of Social Service Department at CAO, overseeing programs such as Home Energy Assistance, Emergency Services, and Senior Meals, among others. At the time of the establishment of the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, Emily saw a deficit of minority hires. She implemented a service to recruit and train minorities who intended to apply for employment with SOCF so that their application would be recognized and their opportunity to be hired would greatly improve. It was a time of major growth in our community.
During these same years, HUD offered funding to housing authorities that agreed to implement programs to desegregate their units. The local authority applied for and received funding, new apartments were constructed, and people were moved in a major effort to desegregate. This offered minorities the opportunity to live and work throughout the county.
It was always Emily’s goal to bring opportunities in housing, employment, and education to minorities in Scioto County. She worked tirelessly to pursue that goal.
Other boards and volunteer work Emily participated in were the Scioto Democratic Party (Past Vice Chairperson), CAO Board of Directors, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, PIDC Board of Directors, League of Women Voters, SOCF Citizens Advisory Council, 5th Ward Committee Person for Scioto County Democratic Party, 14th Street Community Center Board of Directors, and the PMHA Board of Commissioners.
On April 16, 1995, she married Bruce Lanel Thomas in Las Vegas, NV. After 18 years of marriage, Bruce preceded her in death on February 24, 2014.
Surviving are two children, Kimberly J. (Brent) Calloway of Portsmouth, and Kevin (Lisa M.) Cobb of Aurora, IN; a stepson whom she reared, Irwan P. Thomas of Portsmouth; special son, Tyrone (Theresa) Carter of Portsmouth; five grandchildren, Morgan Danielle (Brandon) Reichle, Kevin David Cobb, Christopher LeVaughn Cobb, LaVaughn Howard Cob III, and Cameron Cobb; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, including special nieces and nephews, Mary Ellen Varnum, Jennifer Bradford, Donald Dayan, and Jerry Kaschak; her lifelong sister-friend of more than 70 years, Susan Kirksey Hutchinson of Portsmouth; special sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Emma Cobb Chappelle, Carla Austin and Eugene Cobb, all of Columbus; and her pampered dog, Haley.
Emily was also preceded in death by a son, LeVaughn “Scooter” Howard Cobb, Jr., three siblings, John Dayan, Barbara Jean Kaschak, and Mary Ellen Briggs; and her beloved dog, Boston.
A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. at the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth, with Pastor Bo Burns officiating.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11 A.M. until the service hour.