Meet Our Doctors

Dr. Marrio Rhodan Thomas was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to the parents of Minister Lee Thomas and Christine Walker Thomas. He grew up as the 11th child in a family of 16 children and worked in his father’s businesses which included farming and construction. He became a well-rounded student and star athlete, acquiring the titles of Mr. Overton from Overton High School and Captain of both high school and college football teams. He married his college sweetheart, Leslie Smith-Thomas, and helped raise four daughters.

He graduated from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee, and went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in Memphis. After working for local dentists in Memphis, Dr. Marrio ventured out on his own and developed his own office specializing in skilled and gentle dentistry. He is the CEO of Dr. Marrio Smiles. Dr. Marrio Smiles has been open and serving the Memphis and regional area for over 20 years.

He is a Member of the American Orthodontic Society, the National Dental Association and Shelby County Dental Association (SCDA). He has served as the President and Vice President of the SCDA, President and Vice President of the Pan Tennessee Dental Association and six-time Delegate to the House of Representatives for the National Dental Association. He is a Fellow of the Leadership Academy, was named Honorary City Council Chairman by the City Council, and a Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. (Alpha Delta Lambda Chapter). He created and broadcast a dental talk radio show called the “The Dr. Marrio Show” on KWAM 990 radio. Dr. Marrio has visited over 100 businesses, schools, churches, community centers and daycares in the Memphis area spreading the message of dental prevention. He has won Tri-State Defender’s “The Best in Black Award” for Dentists, Business Journal’s “Top Forty Under Forty”, The Stone Award and is now a recipient of the Curtis Givens “Power 30” Award. Dr Marrio has also created the Dr. Marrio Thomas Foundation, which helps people pay for expensive dental treatment that they normally could not afford. You can find him cheerfully exclaiming his motto: “Loving that Big Doc Smile!” Dr. Marrio continues to work hard to deliver a mixture of general dentistry, orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry to people across the city and region.

Dr. Emechete completed his undergraduate studies in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science at the University of Memphis. He graduated from dental school in 2011 from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and extends his education yearly through continuing education courses. He has certification in orthodontics and CPR. He is a former member of the American Dental Association and a current member of the Tennessee Dental Association, the National Dental Association, the Shelby County Dental Society and the Memphis Dental Society. Dr. Emechete has been practicing in Memphis, Tennessee, for over 12 years. His goal is to improve the health, smiles and lives of his patients by providing optimal dental care with a focus on a gentle and comprehensive treatment.

Dr. Emechete is the father of one daughter. In his free time, he likes football, basketball, fashion and trying new and different cuisines. He also is a certified United States Tennis professional and is the patent recipient for a glove used to string tennis racquets, “Stringer Fingers”.

Dr. Morris completed her undergraduate studies with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Tennessee, before going on to graduate from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in 1995. She regularly attends continuing education courses with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and recently completed a two-year course with Gerety Orthodontic Seminars. She is a proud member of the American Dental Association.

Dr. Morris has practiced dentistry in Tennessee, Arkansas and Connecticut. Her goal as a dentist is to educate her patients regarding their oral health and its importance on their overall well-being, while making their experience as comfortable as possible. She particularly likes working with our “little” patients. While many consider treating children a challenge, Dr. Morris sees it as an opportunity to make their dental experience fun, and engage them in a way that makes them look forward to coming to see her.