Thelma Wilson (Tyus)

Thelma (Tyus, Turner) Wilson, daughter of Pecola and James Otis Tyus and step-daughter of Lucille B. Tyus, was born in Selma, Alabama on August 5, 1930. She attended Cincinnati Public Schools, F.B. Dyer (1st Intermediate School), “old” Woodward and Oyler Junior High. In her young years, she worked at Wilson Poultry, her Uncle Henry Tyus’ business, Buckeye Chilli Parlor, also worked part-time at Nutone Inc., eventually being hired full-time in 1957 and remained until she retired from Nutone Inc. in 1986. After retiring, she worked at Yahweh Day School, Blue Ash, OH.
In 1947, she married James Carl Turner, Sr. To that union, three children were born: James Carl Turner, Jr., Larry Wayne Turner, Sr. and Donna Jean (Turner) Ugwu.
She accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior at an early age. She attended Calvary Baptist Church. She joined St. Mary Baptist Church in 1962 under the leadership of Rev. H.M. Smith and became a member of the choir.
In 1969, she married Elder Clarence Wilson, Sr. He united this union with five sons and four daughters, Pettus Wilson, Clarence Wilson, Jr., Reverend Willie Wilson, James Wilson, Robert Wilson, Annie (Wilson) Beverly, Prencis Wilson, Maria (Wilson) Segar and Julia (Wilson) Hare. In 1969, she joined Shady Grove Primitive Baptist Church under the leadership of her husband, Elder Clarence Wilson, Sr. Their marriage lasted 28 years, until Elder Clarence Wilson, Sr. preceded her in death on August 8, 1997.
On December 6, 1998, she found a new church home, joining Second Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. McArthur Stephens. Although she was not as active in later years, as a result of her health, she remained a faithful member until her death.
Thelma was a kind, loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She was grounded in her faith. Throughout her life, she served in many capacities within the church. She was kindhearted and freehearted and always tried her best to help others.
She was steady. There was never a situation that she didn’t handle with grace, calmness and faith in God. She embodied the spirit of forgiveness and encouraged others to do the same and depend on God for the strength to do so. She made everyone feel that they were her favorite — her favorite friend, her favorite child, her favorite grand-child and her favorite family member. She was giving, whether a person needed a winter coat, a meal, a kind word or a prayer. She was never too busy to help a person with the support they needed to make their situation better.
There are a lot of things that can be said about Thelma Wilson by all the people whose lives she positively impacted. She was a good, constant, shining example of humanity, with God as the head of her life. She lived a peaceful life with dignity, pride, self-respect and respect for others. A couple of the things she would always say: “Treat people the way you would want to be treated” and “Give a person their flowers while they are living.” She exemplified this consistently in all her daily interactions. She will truly be missed, but she is now in a better place with Jesus Christ our Lord.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Pecola Tyus (1935), father, James Otis Tyus (1993), step-mother, Lucille B. Tyus (2001) and brothers, Charles Devon Tyus (2005) and Warren Tyus (2013).
She leaves to cherish her memory: one aunt, Earline Furr; one uncle, Jesse Tyus; two brothers, Henry Tyus (Ruth) and Linwood Tyus; four sisters, Dorothy (Tyus, Dawson) Richardson, Christine Tyus, Shirley (Tyus) Phelps and Betty (Tyus) Durant (Willie); children, James Carl Turner, Jr. (Pat), Larry Wayne Turner, Sr. (Lisa) and Donna (Turner) Ugwu; nine grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.