Thelma K. Haskins

SUNRISE: The sun rose on Thelma Marie Kelley on April 27, 1926 in Georgetown, Mississippi through the union of the late George A. and lona EvansKelley. Thelma's mother died when she was two years old; leaving her father to raise three girls and one boy. Her family moved to Tougaloo, Mississippi where she attended Tougaloo College elementary school, preparatory high school and Christian College. Upon arrival in Tougaloo, they attended the Central Methodist Episcopal Church in Jackson, Mississippi where Thelma was baptized. In 1944 she was united in marriage to Thomas A. Reed and to this union one son and four daughters were born. In 1953 Thelma and her children moved to Wichita, Kansas, and shortly afterward, they moved to Chester, PA where she furthered her education by attending P.M.C. (now Widener University), and Cheyney State College. Thelma worked as a substitute teacher in the Chester-Upland and Darby Township School Districts and the Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Chester, PA. She also served as a teacher of the Title I Programs in Darby Township. In 1960, she joined Zion Baptist Church, under the pastorate of the late Reverend J. A. Crawford, and was a loyal and faithful member, and in 1975 after her marriage to the late Joseph .J Haskins in 1974, she joined the Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church under Rev. Raymond F. Williams where she served as a Sunday School teacher, member of the Senior Choir, Missionary Society, Lay Council, Board of Christian Education, Superintendent of the Sunday School, and Director of The Buds of Promise an 83 member children's choir. Thelma never tired of working for the Lord and served with the Ladies Auxiliary of the Brotherhood Breakfast and was also a member of the Women's Aglow Chapter of Chester. Before moving to Swedesboro, New Jersey, she was a family Day Care Provider for Ethel Mason Day Care in Media, PA. This was definitely her love - children! She also served as a teacher at Step By Step Day Care in Morton, PA. During the illness of her late husband Joseph J. Haskins, she opened "Big Bird's Nest Day Care" in her home through services of Child Care of Delaware County. She also cared for children whose parents could not afford childcare. in 2012 Thelma returned to Zion Baptist Church in Chester, PA, again working with the youth. She served as Superintendent of Sunday School, Missionary Society, pianist for the youth choir, and served on the Building Fund committee. Thelma was a faithful and devoted member of the Providence Baptist Church and served on the following ministries: Member and Advisor of the Sarah Harrell Missionary Ministry, member of the Adult Sunday School Class, Vacation Bible School Assistant, Coordinator of the Providence Drama Ministry, and Supervisor of the Chester and Vicinity District Congress of Christian Education. She was also a member of the Woman's Auxiliary of the Brotherhood Breakfast Association of Churches. While at Tougaloo from primary through high school, Thelma met numerous Black achievers; namely, D.r Mary McCloud Bethune, Lena Horn, Fisk Jubilee Singers, Dr. George Washington Carter, Marian Anderson and many more. She w a s encouraged by Marian Anderson to tell the stories of slavery and Black accomplishments through plays, poems, and music. She has written plays for Studevan Plus, BAAC (Black Affairs Advisory Council) of the Dept. of Social Security in Cherry Hill, NJ; Angel Visit Baptist Church, Mt. Royal, NJ, and also churches of Chester and vicinity. Her love for writing also lead her to write many poems over the years to and about her husband, children, grands, and friends. At the ripe age of 93, Thelma wrote a bestsellers book on Amazon called " Never Walked Alone" a poetic inspirational story of overcoming struggles in her life. This book was prompted by the constant questioning of her grands and great grands about her life growing up in the south in the 'olden days', as they called it. Writing this book also allowed her to incorporate her poems that were never published from her books 'Thelma Haskins Cherished Poems' and 'My Path of Poems', using them to tell her story. Thelma loved caring for people, and you would often find her making accommodations for anyone that needed help. Her children often spoke of the many times they shared their home with others that needed assistance or just temporary room and board. Her home was sometimes called the "Neighborhood House" and "Friendly Hospital". She adopted many children this way. Thelma inspired everyone she came in contact with and often left them with. a smile, words of wisdom and even a joke or two. She loved people and fi you met her for the first time, her question to you would be "Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ" or "What church do you go to", and then finally "Come visit my church sometime at.". Her desire was to see everyone come to Jesus. She was a person that no one could say 'No' to because whatever you asked her to do, she would never turn you down, and fi she couldn't do it, she'd find someone else that could accommodate you. Thelma truly lived out her favorite scriptures that she used to share wisdom with others: "A soft answer turns away wrath"; Philippians 4:11 "For I have learned in whatsoever state Iam, therein to be content"; and Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." SUNSET: On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at the well-lived age of 96, the sun set on Thelma, and she was called on home to glory. She lived so long that she would sometime jokingly say "I wonder if the Lord forgot about me?" She was succeeded in death by her husband Joseph J. Haskins; her son Terrence A. Reed; her grandson James D. Reed and her granddaughter Shea C. Harmon. She leaves to carry on her legacy four daughters, Tomi Reed-Smith (Robert), Teresa Reed, Theda Harmon (Paul), Trudy Otis (West); her daughter-in-law Christine Reed; 14 Grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 19 great-great grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews and friends; and a special friend and adopted daughter Rev. LarRaine Branch.

Thelma K. Haskins

April 27, 1926 - March 14, 2023