Mitzi Lesher-Thomas

 Mitzi Lynne Lesher-Thomas (01/29/1973-09/28/2025)

“Stay where your feet are.” This became her signature phrase in the last 20 years of her life, ministry, play, and friendships. Mitzi, ever the curator of words, used them precisely and with purpose. Staying where her feet were was simply the logical consequence of speaking, and living, deliberately.

Mitzi held many accomplishments in her lifetime: academically, socially, professionally, and through her service to her community. While each of these held meaning for her it was her accomplishments with others that gave her life meaning and purpose. Her running with peers, her work among celebrated staff and colleagues, her volunteer hours standing with those called to the same service, and her time with her family. It is often said that the greatest things in life are like holding sand in your hand - the more you try to hold on the more you end up losing. Mitzi held with just the right amount of effort. There was always enough to know you were held and loved, but never so much that the moment suffered under the strain.

Though she moved around a bit as a child, Mitzi was glad to call Pittsboro, NC, home for 20 years of her marriage to Troy. It was the right size of community to blend the family and personal experiences she wanted and looked for. Mitzi found meaningful service at Edgewood Presbyterian Church in Sanford, Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill, Cary Presbyterian Church in Cary, and lastly at First Presbyterian Church in Durham. She always brought a love of the arts and creative expression to her work and ministry. Each congregation was one she fell in love with easily and departed only with great difficulty. She would often say, “Serving in the church just means our family is always getting bigger.”

Mitzi loved the outdoors and mountains. She was able to nurture and support the cultivation of this love in her two children, Mackenzie and Andrew. Both were a constant focus and love in her life. From picking fresh fruit to baking cookies, Mitzi sought ways to include them in her first loves. And, while her children were trying on new paths Mitzi would sojourn with them even if it was not her path of choice. This meant she drove a tractor Andrew got running at the age of 7. She worked on music with Mac from her elementary school years. And, she watched the mini-metal foundry go through hundreds of aluminum cans as Andrew and Troy made aluminum ingots. Mitzi made sure to make family a priority in all that she did - work and play - her family will be forever enlarged because of her.

Mitzi is survived by her husband, Troy; her children, Mackenzie and Andrew; her father, JIm and mother, Jean; and her brother Steve. Though lost to cancer, her stepmother Shelley held a special place in Mitzi’s heart as does Shelley’s daughter, Christine, and son, Paul. In addition to those named, there are spouses of family, cousins, nieces/nephews, and the like which all hold a special place in Mitzi’s life and story.

For those wishing to give a gift in memory of MItzi several ideas came to mind for her. Those wishing to gift a church might consider First Presbyterian Church, Durham or Clemmons Presbyterian Church, Clemmons, where Troy currently serves. For those with a love of trails and running, consider a gift to your favorite park to train or run in. Lastly, since everyone knows someone who has fought or is fighting cancer, you might consider a gift to the cancer charity or hospice of your choice. Mitzi would want each gift to make a difference in the life of someone with the hope that the gift once planted might blossom and grow.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm Sunday, October 5, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church in Durham, NC. Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel is serving the Lesher-Thomas family.