One of the nine children born to Boone and Madeline Greenwell Peake, Mary Cecilia was born in New Haven, Kentucky. Her formal education began at St. Catherine School in New Haven where she was taught by the Sisters of Loretto. Mary Cecilia also received her high school education at St. Catherine School, but by then the Ursuline Sisters were staffing the school. At the age of twenty-four, Mary Cecilia entered the novitiate at Mount St. Joseph in 1929. She received the Ursuline habit on March 19,1930, and the name Sister Thomas James.

Sister Thomas James was first missioned at St. Raphael School in West Louisville where she taught for three years teaching primary grades. Other assignments were to Knottsville, Nebraska City, Lebanon (St. Charles), Raywick (St. Joseph), Fredericktown, Waverly, Holy Cross, St. Francis, and Louisville (St. Margaret Mary). She retired to the motherhouse in 1982.

January 1, 1990 | Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer (KY)
Survivors include a brother, Richard Peake of Lebanon; and a sister, Mrs. Edward (Kitty) Rogers of Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Mount St. Joseph. Burial in Mount St. Joseph Cemetery in Maple Mount. Visitation and vigil after 3 p.m. today at Mount St. Joseph. Glenn Funeral Home, Owensboro, is in charge of arrangements.

Lived in Nebraska City, Nebraska in 1935.
Lived in Marion Co., KY in 1940.

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