Thelma Kate Birmingham

 

Thelma was born on March 5, 1939, in Scott County, VA to Orban and Bessie Barnett.  She was graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, TN and attended the Salvation Army’s School for Officers’ Training.  She and her husband David,  were officers with The Salvation Army with over 30 years of service with assignments in the Kentucky-Tennessee Division, Florida Division and Atlanta Territorial Command.  She is survived by her sons Greg (Justine) Birmingham, of Ocoee, FL, and Mark (Lisa) Duke of Louisville, KY, two sisters Mildred Height of Dayton, OH and Rose Castle of Maysville, GA, one brother Bill Barnett of Rockford, TN, one grandchild, seven nieces, three nephews, and one great-nephew.

Thelma lived at the Grand Villa Assisted Living facility in Altamonte Springs, FL since 2016. She held Sunday worship services there and taught a weekly Bible class and enjoyed making beads and designing jewelry with friends.  She loved playing cards, board games, and working jigsaw puzzles, as well as coloring complex pictures.

About 15 years ago, Thelma was stricken with stage four ovarian cancer.  She survived, surprising her doctors, but has suffered greatly from the side effects of chemo and radiation.  In 2019 she learned that the cancer had returned.  She chose not to have chemo, radiation, or surgery.  She was under the care of hospice since October 2020 and was Promoted to Glory on August 7th, 2021. 

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, August 21, 2021, at 11:00 a.m., at the Salvation Army Citadel Corps, 244 W Colonial Drive, Orlando,FL.