Thelma Neeley

Thelma Mae Nichols Neeley, 94, passed into the arms of Jesus on April 13, 2013, at White Oak Manor in Kings Mountain. She was born on November 29, 1918 in Gaston County, to the late Ross Roland and Annie Lee Hopper Nichols.

Thelma Mae was active in her community. She was a member of Bessemer City First Wesleyan Church for more than 80 years. She taught the Ladies' Sunday School Class over 50 years. Later the church named that class after her in honor of her many years of service to the church. Thelma Mae was a homemaker who loved to garden, sing and play music. She retired from Reeves Brothers Osage Plant. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother who will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Judy Lowery and husband Joe; her son, Jerry Neeley and fiancee Bernadine Carpenter; grandchildren, Barry Costner, Jeffery Neeley, Olivia Neeley, Robby Lanford and Jennifer Knowles; five great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Nancy Nichols Capps.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Franklin Neeley; brothers, Edward and Gene Nichols.

Funeral services will take place Wednesday at 3:00 PM at First Wesleyan Church, Bessemer City, with Rev. Wes Brown and Rev. Dick Whitener officiating.
Interment will follow at Westview Gardens.
Family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 PM Tuesday at First Wesleyan Family Life Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bessemer City First Wesleyan Church Building Fund, PO Box 682, Bessemer City, NC 28016 OR Hospice Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby, NC 28150