A native Charlottean and longtime real estate exec, Thomas played a key role in SouthPark’s growth story
Chris Thomas speaks about the Apex SouthPark development in 2020 — a project on which he served as a key leader — as part of a Ledger real estate development video feature. (Video screenshot)
by Ashley Fahey
Chris Thomas, a leader at Charlotte commercial real estate firm Childress Klein who was involved in many community initiatives in Charlotte, passed away on April 29, after a brief battle with liver cancer.
Thomas headed up Childress Klein’s retail development, marketing and leasing practice. He had been at Childress Klein since 1998, starting as a senior marketing principal, then becoming a retail partner in 2004. Before his time at Childress Klein, Thomas worked in Belk’s real estate department.
He had numerous affiliations with nonprofits, organizations and business groups, having served at various times on the boards of TreesCharlotte, The Sharon at SouthPark, the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Alumni Council, NAIOP Charlotte, the Catawba Lands Conservancy and the Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition (REBIC)
Thomas was also a co-founder and board chair of SouthPark Community Partners, an economic development group formed in 2022 to manage SouthPark’s Municipal Service District.
In fact, SouthPark was a core part of Thomas’ professional and personal identity, having grown up in the Montclaire neighborhood not far from SouthPark, according to a 2024 story in SouthPark Magazine. Apex SouthPark, the redevelopment of the “ski slope” Sharon United Methodist Church on Sharon Road, was one of the major projects Thomas led during his time at Childress Klein. He was also intimately involved in planning out the growth and development of The Sharon retirement community.
In my interactions with Thomas over the years, he was always upbeat — you might say that’s fairly typical for a CRE leader, but Thomas always had a sunny disposition and demeanor.
Thomas’ age at the time of his death could not be immediately confirmed.
A spokesperson for Childress Klein submitted the following about Thomas, saying he leaves behind an “incredible legacy”:
Chris was an integral part of CK for the past 28 years, starting as a marketing principal in the Retail Division and achieving partnership status shortly thereafter. Chris was a key member of the development teams for notable projects such as Waverly, RiverGate, Afton Ridge and Apex Southpark just to name a few.
More importantly, Chris’s positive attitude and focus on relationship building touched every member of this company and the local real estate community. He was deeply committed to mentoring the younger generation of real estate leaders. He was actively involved in the leadership of ICSC, NAOIP, Sharon Towers, the Harris YMCA, SouthPark Community Partners and Carmel Baptist Church.
As a native Charlottean, he also was committed to supporting political leaders that focused on making our City a better place to live and conduct business. Chris will be deeply, deeply missed.
During the pandemic, Thomas taught neighborhood kids civics lessons on his back porch, according to the SouthPark Magazine story.
Patrick Baker, the former Charlotte city attorney and the 2025-2026 president of the Rotary Club of Charlotte, also late Wednesday sent a message about Thomas’ passing:
It is with great sadness that I share that Chris Thomas passed away earlier today after a brief battle with cancer.
Chris has been an active member of the Rotary Club of Charlotte since 2003. He was an incoming member of the Board & in charge of the Head Table for each meeting. He represented our Club well in all that he did in his work, church, & broader community. He exemplified the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self."
Please keep his wife, Jane, & his entire family in your thoughts and prayers.
Thomas was featured in a 2020 episode of The Ledger’s Flyover Friday: