PARKS, Thelma Jones, the first of five daughters, was born in Montgomery County, Alabama to Silas C. and Mary E. Milledge Jones. She departed this life on Thursday, September 1,2011. Funeral services will be held Sunday, September 11, 2011, at 1 p.m., from Holt Street Church of Christ, 945 S. Holt St., Montgomery, AL. Burial will follow at Gilmer Cemetery in Pike Road, AL with Ross-Clayton Funeral Home directing. Thelma was a faithful member of the Holt Street Church of Christ, where she served in a variety of capacities, including being program director and a Vacation Bible School teacher for a number of years. She was educated in the public schools of Montgomery County. She attended Alabama State College and received the Bachelor of Science degree. Later, she returned to Alabama State University and earned the Master of Education degree. After that, she attended Troy State University and earned the Education Specialist degree. Thelma also furthered her education by attending New York University in New York, NY, Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, and the College of Notre Dame, Belmont, CA. Her teaching career began at Sandtown High School in Millbrook, AL. Later, she was transferred to Stanhope Elmore High School, becoming the first Black teacher in the high school department--teaching Typing, Shorthand and Bookkeeping. She was later employed by the Montgomery County Board of Education as a teacher at Jefferson Davis High School, where she became Head of the Business Department. She was truly a master teacher. After retiring from the Montgomery County Board of Education, she taught Typing at Trenholm State Technical College. Her professional associations included membership in the Montgomery County Education Association, Alabama Retired Teachers Association, and the National Education Association. Thelma will be truly missed. She is survived by her two sisters, Ruth J. M. (Ben)and Mary A. J., Montgomery, AL; nephew; aunt, Mary Louise J., Ecorse, MI; special mom, Pecola B., Montgomery, AL; a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, friends, former students; those who called her their sister, including Moses, Opelika, AL and Winona, Montgomery, AL; and Jenelle of Fayetteville, GA, who was like a daughter.

Published by Montgomery Advertiser on Sep. 7, 2011.