Obituary: Thelma Young

Thelma Young

Thelma Young

HAMLET, N.C. — Thelma Speight Young, age 86, died peacefully surrounded by family and friends at Manor Care Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Pinehurst.

Thelma Young was born Oct. 27, 1927 in Rockingham to parents Roosevelt Speight and Cornelia Jenkins Speight. She graduated from Rockingham High School in 1945. Immediately after graduation she worked as a civilian clerk at the U.S. Army’s Camp Mackall. She married Samuel Aaron Young in 1953 and settled in Hamlet. She worked almost 20 years at the JP Stevens Hannah Pickett Plant. Thelma retired from Belk Inc. in 1991.

A longtime member of Fellowship United Methodist Church in Hamlet, Thelma was a valued member of the Mary Martha Circle. She took great comfort in her strong faith and lived it every day. After her retirement, Thelma and Sam indulged their love of RV camping and travel. They and a handful of like-minded friends began a Good Sam’s Club chapter in Richmond County in 1991, in which Thelma and Sam were active and dedicated members. Highlights of their travels included a trip to western Canada and the Pacific Northwest, traveling back home through California, Nevada, Texas and the Gulf Coast. But their favorite spot for camping was anywhere on the North or South Carolina coast.

Thelma also enjoyed many hours of line dancing lessons at the Hamlet Senior Center. The dancers took their show on the road to nursing homes in the area. She especially doted on her grandchildren and loved to have extended family fill her house with noise and laughter. A people person and a Red Hat Society lady, Thelma couldn’t go out to eat or to the store without running into someone she knew and loved. Even near the end of her life on Earth, she still touched those around her with her kindness and concern. The family thanks the caring staffs of Elmcroft Assisted Living and Manor Care Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, as well as all the friends who visited and sent cards.

Thelma is survived by daughter Rose Young McHenry and her husband Richard of Pinehurst, daughter Abbie Young and her partner Tammy Benge of Lewisville, daughter Kelly Young of Hamlet and son Samuel Young Jr. and wife Kimberly of Charlotte, and grandchildren Caroline McHenry, Sarah Grace Young, Rachael Young, Greyson Young, Anderson Rierson and Coy Rierson. She also is survived by niece Sherry Phillips Reitzel and nephews Scott Phillips and John Phillips. Thelma was predeceased by her parents, her husband and her sister, Cheryl Phillips.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27 at Fellowship Methodist Church in Hamlet. Preceding the funeral service, the family will receive visitors at Watson-King Funeral Home on Highway 177 in Hamlet from 1 p.m. until 2:30 pm. Visitors also are welcomed to the family home.

The family requests that memorial gifts be made to Fellowship United Methodist Church, 1200 McDonald Ave., Hamlet, NC 28345.

Paid obituary

The Pee Dee Post
Monday, Aug. 25, 2014

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