Who is Jamal Adeen Thomas Mother Kathy Ambush? What is she doing now?

Jamal Adeen Thomas’s mother Kathy Ambush has lived a life behind closed doors. She was married to Associate Justice Clarence Thomas for a long-time from which they share one and only son, Jamal.

Since her divorce from Clarence, Kathy has re-married, just like her ex-husband. So who is her new spouse? What is Kathy doing today? 

What do we know about Kathy? Let’s get right into it and find out!

Who is Clarence Thomas first wife Kathy Ambush?

Born on 6th June 1950, she is the daughter of Nelson William Ambush and Shigao Gladys Sato. Kathy Grace spent her childhood in Worcester city, Massachusetts.

Talking about her parents, her dad Nelson was a famous dental technician from Worcester. He started out by working for his brother Benjamin and later worked in several dental labs. The late Nelson Ambush was a big supporter of the civil rights movement and fought alongside several clubs like the William Monroe Trotter Club, Cambridge Community, and more.

Both Kathy’s mom and dad are no longer in this world. Her dad passed away in 2012 at the age of 96 while her mom Shigao died in 1984 at the age of 67.

Kathy grew up alongside a couple of siblings

Her late parents shared five children between them including Kathy. She has two brothers, Benjamin, Reverend Stephen Ambush, and two sisters, June and Karen Thande Ambush. All of her siblings are college graduates.

In addition to her biological brothers and sisters, she has two step-siblings, sisters Valerie Wilson and Sydney Schuyler. Both of them were adopted by Kathy’s dad when he married their mother Mary Estelle.

Although we don’t about her step-siblings, we do know Kathy shares a beautiful relationship with her biological brothers and sisters.

What about Kathy’s education?

Kathy studied at Saint Peter-Marion Central Catholic High School. It was a Catholic school based in Worcester. In 2019, the school merged with Holy Name and is currently named St Paul Diocesan Junior/Senior High School. 

Upon finishing high school, she attended Anna Maria College where she graduated with a sociology in 1970.

For the next five years or so, she gained experience in her professional field. In 1975, she enrolled at Lincoln University and earned a degree in Business Administration.

What does Kathy Ambush do?

Currently, Kathy is enjoying her retired life doing volunteer work. On her LinkedIn profile, she has written that she helps up-and-coming entrepreneurs by connecting the dots for greater success, wealth, and better life. She is based in Greater Richmond Region. Moreover, she also often works for the Global Internet Entrepreneur.

Previously, Kathy was working closely with The Immigrant Learning Center where she held the position of Assistant Director and Director of Development. She worked at the organization from 2002 to 2018.

Apart from this, back in the late 70s she worked for NRCC as their Communication Specialist. Afterward, she started working at Milton Academy as the director of their MASP Program. In addition, she also worked at BankBoston as Community Relations Specialist.

Kathy Ambush and Clarence Thomas Marriage

Clarence and Kathy were married for over a decade. They exchanged vows on June 5th, 1971, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Worcester.

At their wedding, a handful of their respective family members were in attendance including his mother, sister, and Aunty. After their marriage, the lovebirds moved to New Haven, Connecticut as Clarence had just joined the Yale University of Law.

Does Kathy have children with Clarence?

From their more than a decade’s worth of marital relationship, the former flames became the proud parents of one son, Jamal Adeen Thomas. He was born on February 15th, 1973 at Yale New Haven Hospital, CT.

Their son is currently working in the financial sector, specifically at John F. Der Hyde and Associates as their Director of Supervision. Before this, he worked at Wachovia Securities as an options trader.

Moving toward his family life, he married his wife of many years, Sakina Karima Paige, a lawyer from Richmond, Virginia. Although it is not clear when did they tie the knot, the lovebird is a proud parent of one son. Jamal often shares photos with his wife and son on his social media profile.

Why did Kathy and Clarence divorce? Did he cheat?

Everything was going great in their relationship when suddenly Clarence started having drinking problems. Soon enough his alcohol issue became increasingly troublesome for the family as it started impacting his life.

Around the same time, The Root reports that Clarence was involved in an extra-marital affair with Lillian McEwen. His mistress revealed that Thomas would often use his student loan money to drink in bars. His actions led him to a financial instability spiral. 

Eventually, he realized how his drinking addiction has done more harm than good and he decided to give it up. However, just quitting alcohol wasn’t going to solve all of his problems as alcoholism has led to debts that he was yet to settle.

Due to his financial woes, he got numerous eviction notices and soon enough he took his wife and son and moved to Washington, and started working for the newly elected Junior senator of Missouri. Nevertheless, his problems had already crept into his marriage with Kathy and Jamal Adeen Thomas’ parents separated in 1981. Their divorce was finalized in 1984.

Is Kathy Ambush married?

Several years after her divorce, Kathy married again. She tied the knot with Douglas Allen Smith. The married couple currently lives in Richmond, Virginia. It seems the duo doesn’t share any kids between them.

Meanwhile, Clarence also married lobbyist Virginia Lamp aka Ginni Thomas. They walked down the aisle on May 30th, 1987. At the time of their marriage, Ginni was a Protestant but later converted to the Catholic faith in 2002.

Her ex-husband got custody of their son

Jamal’s custody was given to Clarence when he divorce his mom Ambush. At the time of their marriage annulment, Jamal was a teenager. Despite all that, all three of them are incredibly close to each other.

Adeen has often shared his thoughts on his mom on social media. From the statement alone it is evident his father really taught him well. And why wouldn’t he? After all, he loves his son so dearly, so much so that he even sold his car to pay for his tuition.

It really is inspiring to see how much Jamal respects his father’s teaching.