Sorry to hear about the passing of Aunt Thelma. She was 'one of a kind" lady. She was very protective of her 'girls'. She certainly trained them in the right direction. I will always remember her as a very sweet lady, as well as a Christian lady. I extend my condolences to the family and my prayers are with you. I know she will be greatly missed by her family.
Sorry to hear about Aunt Thelma. She was a sweet lady and kept us on our toes. I know she is in a better place and no more suffering. She will be missed by all.
My memories of "aunt" Thelma are so many it's really hard to pin down just a synopsis to put in a few words. I shared on face book this one. I was 8 yrs old when Aunt Thelma came to TCM. I was excited but somewhat scared, because when she came to visit, she would comment on different things, she would do different, and we knew if she did take the position, our lives would change. And change they did !! Aunt Thelma was loving and kind, but at the same time very rigid in rules. She was consistant in what she believed and taught. Lying to her was one thing that was not tolerated at all...no white, black or otherwise...he he...So today, I"m the same way, Thank you Aunt Thelma.
My birthday was the first one in the dorm, and she went to the park and we got a pravillion and had a huge picnic. She herself purchased me a "Baby Alive" Doll. Had the best time ever that year. Then she was informed we didn't have Birthday parties like that for each child. It was, you got sung Happy Birthday, and maybe got to go first where ever you went or was made to feel special, but no gifts unless someone outside of TCM sent them to you...OOPS !! So Thank you Aunt Thelma!
I was often called "Aunt Thelma's pet" from the girls in the dorm...I hated that then, because I wanted to fit in with the girls. But I did LIKE spending time with her. She would take me many times on her day off, off campus with her to go to the sewing stores, or go get a hamburger which was such a treat. Who wouldn't wanta go? Loved that she took the time to teach me to sew, and embroidery, along with making crafts, like fish decor for walls to sell for TCM. In everything she taught us, she demanded perfection or close to it. It taught me today to do everything to the best of my ablility and not half do anything. So Thank you Aunt Thelma!
Manners: Oh my! Martha Stewart, had nothing on Aunt Thelma! He HE...She was huge on Manners and most of all, being a Lady. She taught us girls how to eat properly, chewing with our mouths closed, not talking at the table, please pass this and that, putting your hands in your lap, no elbows on the table, and saying Excuse me when you got up to leave everytime...NO Kidding. Along with Please and Thank you. Asking May I, not Can I... NO CROSSING YOUR LEGS- only crossing your ankles...making sure your skirt was always down. Okay, so maybe, I'm didn't get the crossing of your legs down...sorry Aunt Thelma...but I do check to see if I'm modest doing it...Without Aunt Thelma, I really don't think I would have learned to be polite or mannerly. Thank You Aunt Thelma!
One thing, I remember she taught us to do laundry, and to sort it out at the age of 9yrs old. I was given the responsibility of making sure it was sorted correctly, washed and hung up properly, not halfway. I can remember our dorm being nominated many times as the cleanest dorm there, because of her teaching, "Whatsoever you do, do it with your whole heart" and if it wasn't, you did it over and over again until she was well pleased with the results. I really appreciate this as an adult. Didn't like it atall then I assure you, but grown up with kids of my own, I think I acted somewhat like her with my own kiddo's. Thank you Aunt Thelma.
Like I said, she was very strict, got my hiney many times...but I knew ahead of time, if I did it, I would get it. or if we got put on restriction, we were on restriction for a month or more. And she didn't budge either. Standing in the corner, or writing lines, doing extra chores, whatever she chose, You learned the lesson she wanted you to. She was consistant in what she said. I'm so thankful that the 3 yrs or so, that I had her as a house parent, that I was taught morals, values, honesty,being consistant and respect. So Thank you Aunt Thelma.
But most of all, she was a very strong child of GOD. She read the Bible, and she taught us the word. She knew she wanted us to memorize scriptures, so she would offer challenges for us. I learned word for word (true to form, exactly as it said too, not missing or putting in any words for another) the whole 2nd chapter of Acts. All 47 verses. Word for Word! The Love Chapter in Corinthians...Word for Word, and many other verses in the Bible. She taught us to hide the word in our hearts, so that when trouble came, we could draw on our knowledge of the Bible to help us in the hard times...Aunt Thelma taught us to pray, and have a personal relationship with God, not just a church relationship. The need for salvation ! I thank you the most, for this Aunt Thelma.
So, as I leave this tribute to a remarkable lady, I thank God for the timing he had in my life, to allow me to have Aunt Thelma as my mentor in a time I truly needed a great one. I think God Chose well. When I left her dorm at the age of 12, she and Aunt Peggy knew we were ready to have the not so much supervision, that she had taught us well. The everyday in your face guidence she gave us prepared us for the next step of some freedom in the teenage dorm. At the time, we all felt relieved to leave her "strict" dorm, not knowing that because of her, we gained a World of Knowledge to make us well rounded not only as a teenager, but as a grown adult. I owe so much to this dear lady,a thank you from me, seems pretty small, but it's truly heart-felt.
Love you forever and always..Sabrina Briggs Walpole _Bina
Pam Graves Staff
Sorry to hear about the passing of Aunt Thelma. She was 'one of a kind" lady. She was very protective of her 'girls'. She certainly trained them in the right direction. I will always remember her as a very sweet lady, as well as a Christian lady. I extend my condolences to the family and my prayers are with you. I know she will be greatly missed by her family.
Vicky Kroh
Sorry to hear about Aunt Thelma. She was a sweet lady and kept us on our toes. I know she is in a better place and no more suffering. She will be missed by all.
Sabrina Briggs (Walpole)
My memories of "aunt" Thelma are so many it's really hard to pin down just a synopsis to put in a few words. I shared on face book this one. I was 8 yrs old when Aunt Thelma came to TCM. I was excited but somewhat scared, because when she came to visit, she would comment on different things, she would do different, and we knew if she did take the position, our lives would change. And change they did !! Aunt Thelma was loving and kind, but at the same time very rigid in rules. She was consistant in what she believed and taught. Lying to her was one thing that was not tolerated at all...no white, black or otherwise...he he...So today, I"m the same way, Thank you Aunt Thelma.
My birthday was the first one in the dorm, and she went to the park and we got a pravillion and had a huge picnic. She herself purchased me a "Baby Alive" Doll. Had the best time ever that year. Then she was informed we didn't have Birthday parties like that for each child. It was, you got sung Happy Birthday, and maybe got to go first where ever you went or was made to feel special, but no gifts unless someone outside of TCM sent them to you...OOPS !! So Thank you Aunt Thelma!
I was often called "Aunt Thelma's pet" from the girls in the dorm...I hated that then, because I wanted to fit in with the girls. But I did LIKE spending time with her. She would take me many times on her day off, off campus with her to go to the sewing stores, or go get a hamburger which was such a treat. Who wouldn't wanta go? Loved that she took the time to teach me to sew, and embroidery, along with making crafts, like fish decor for walls to sell for TCM. In everything she taught us, she demanded perfection or close to it. It taught me today to do everything to the best of my ablility and not half do anything. So Thank you Aunt Thelma!
Manners: Oh my! Martha Stewart, had nothing on Aunt Thelma! He HE...She was huge on Manners and most of all, being a Lady. She taught us girls how to eat properly, chewing with our mouths closed, not talking at the table, please pass this and that, putting your hands in your lap, no elbows on the table, and saying Excuse me when you got up to leave everytime...NO Kidding. Along with Please and Thank you. Asking May I, not Can I... NO CROSSING YOUR LEGS- only crossing your ankles...making sure your skirt was always down. Okay, so maybe, I'm didn't get the crossing of your legs down...sorry Aunt Thelma...but I do check to see if I'm modest doing it...Without Aunt Thelma, I really don't think I would have learned to be polite or mannerly. Thank You Aunt Thelma!
One thing, I remember she taught us to do laundry, and to sort it out at the age of 9yrs old. I was given the responsibility of making sure it was sorted correctly, washed and hung up properly, not halfway. I can remember our dorm being nominated many times as the cleanest dorm there, because of her teaching, "Whatsoever you do, do it with your whole heart" and if it wasn't, you did it over and over again until she was well pleased with the results. I really appreciate this as an adult. Didn't like it atall then I assure you, but grown up with kids of my own, I think I acted somewhat like her with my own kiddo's. Thank you Aunt Thelma.
Like I said, she was very strict, got my hiney many times...but I knew ahead of time, if I did it, I would get it. or if we got put on restriction, we were on restriction for a month or more. And she didn't budge either. Standing in the corner, or writing lines, doing extra chores, whatever she chose, You learned the lesson she wanted you to. She was consistant in what she said. I'm so thankful that the 3 yrs or so, that I had her as a house parent, that I was taught morals, values, honesty,being consistant and respect. So Thank you Aunt Thelma.
But most of all, she was a very strong child of GOD. She read the Bible, and she taught us the word. She knew she wanted us to memorize scriptures, so she would offer challenges for us. I learned word for word (true to form, exactly as it said too, not missing or putting in any words for another) the whole 2nd chapter of Acts. All 47 verses. Word for Word! The Love Chapter in Corinthians...Word for Word, and many other verses in the Bible. She taught us to hide the word in our hearts, so that when trouble came, we could draw on our knowledge of the Bible to help us in the hard times...Aunt Thelma taught us to pray, and have a personal relationship with God, not just a church relationship. The need for salvation ! I thank you the most, for this Aunt Thelma.
So, as I leave this tribute to a remarkable lady, I thank God for the timing he had in my life, to allow me to have Aunt Thelma as my mentor in a time I truly needed a great one. I think God Chose well. When I left her dorm at the age of 12, she and Aunt Peggy knew we were ready to have the not so much supervision, that she had taught us well. The everyday in your face guidence she gave us prepared us for the next step of some freedom in the teenage dorm. At the time, we all felt relieved to leave her "strict" dorm, not knowing that because of her, we gained a World of Knowledge to make us well rounded not only as a teenager, but as a grown adult. I owe so much to this dear lady,a thank you from me, seems pretty small, but it's truly heart-felt.
Love you forever and always..Sabrina Briggs Walpole _Bina