Thelma Faye Smith

May 13, 1939  to October 24, 2023

Thelma Faye Smith birth name “Carla Dean” was born on May 13, 1939, to the late Clyntell McArthur Smith and Verdyce Ophelia West Grimble. She attended Terrell Schools in Terrell, Texas until she later moved to Houston, Texas where she completed her education at Booker T. Washington High School and attended Texas Southern University. Thelma Faye is preceded in death by her father, Clyntell Smith; mother, Mrs. Verdyce O. Grimble; stepfather, Mr. Hansel I. Grimble, sister, Arthur (Audrey) Vernice Smith Powell; son-in-law Rev. Lee A. Denson; and her only nephew, Milton Jerome Powell, Jr.

She accepted Christ at an early age at Bethlehem Baptist Church and when the family moved to Houston, they became members of Damascus Baptist Church. As a young adult, she decided to move back to Terrell to be close to her grandmother, Roberta Simon, and reunited with Bethlehem Baptist Church. It was also in Terrell that she met and married L.C. Burnette. Thelma Faye was a hard worker, even as a college student at Texas Southern University, she had great work ethics. Her first job was working in a jewelry store where she had an eye looking at jewelry and could identify real diamonds. She began her career at Timberlawn Psychiatric Hospital in Dallas, Texas, as a mental health therapist aide working with adolescents, who adored her.

Thelma Faye had fond memories of Timberlawn, which is where she met her co-worker, Beatrice Murphy, who became her good friend and traveling buddy. After many years of service at Timberlawn, she made the decision to work closer to home, and accepted a position at Terrell State Hospital where she worked until she retired in 1999. Thelma Faye was very devoted and engaged in the community. She loved working with young teenagers and became a Girl Scout Cadet Leader in her community. She was the President of the Faithful Few, under her leadership, she was very instrumental in initiating their annual hat show where ladies wore their glamorous hats and the funds raised offered scholarships twice a year to high school seniors. The organization also assisted with providing bereaved families with dinner after funeral services and supported a family in need with Christmas gifts annually. Thelma Faye was also a member of the Mission Sisters and Women’s Ministry at Bethlehem Baptist Church.

Her faithfulness and devotion extended beyond her work and church life which was proven with her long-lasting friendship with Kenneth Morrow (cousin), Mary Ann Brown (friend), and Walter Ruth Washington (cousin); a testament to the fact that relationships mattered. They remained close friends until separated by death. Thelma Faye favorite pastimes were traveling and playing card games with family and friends, going to the casinos, watching Wheel of Fortune and ABC World News Tonight with David Muir. She was a crossword puzzle guru, there was not a puzzle she did not solve. She leaves to cherish her memory forever her daughters, Verdeese Ophelia Carr, Teresa Carr Davis (Cecil), Sharon Denese Burnette, and Audrea Burnette Denson; ten (10) grandchildren: Quincy LaRay Carr, Adrian Machelle Darby (Mark), Gary Don Hampton, Jr. (Alisa), Andralesia Victoria Denson (Chris), Alexandria Vaney Denson, Jade D’Andrea Zachery, and Deondray Tyrone Kennedy; three (3) great granddaughters: Jasmine, London and Nariah Darby; and two (2) great grandsons: A’maree and Carsyn Doss, niece, Josie James Hamilton, two (2) grand nieces, BreeAngela Hamilton and Malon Jisele Powell, cousins, Colvin Blanford (Margaret) and Maggie Reid, William Lawrence Drake, Mildred Smith, special family friend, Myrtle Polk and a host of other family and friends

Services:  Public Viewing:  Friday October 03, 2023  from 5-7 PM

Celebration Service: Saturday, October 4, 2023 11:00 AM                                                     Bethlehem BC-500 S. Rockwall Ave.  Terrell, Texas

Burial:  New Oakwood Cemetery – Terrell, Texas