One of the nine children born to Boone and Madeline Greenwell Peake, Mary Cecilia was born March 17, 1905, in New Haven, Ky. 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 24, Mary Cecilia entered the novitiate at Mount Saint 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, Ky., where she taught for three years teaching primary grades. Other assignments were to Knottsville, Ky., Nebraska City, Neb., and the Kentucky cities of Lebanon (St. Charles), Raywick (St. Joseph), Fredericktown, Waverly, Holy Cross, St. Francis, and Louisville (St. Margaret Mary).
Sister Thomas James returned to Mount Saint Joseph in 1978, and was happily occupied with the various retirement activities. In the last half of the 1980s, she was confined to the infirmary suffering both physically and mentally. Death came to her on December 30, 1989.
On January 1, 1990, Father Anthony Shonis, chaplain, and Father Charles Thompson, Sister’s former student, celebrated the funeral Mass. Another former student, Father John Lesousky, C.R, sent a letter of regret for his absence. Sister Thomas James’ remains rest in the convent cemetery.