Thelma Elizabeth Akin Sudbury

Lakeland - Thelma Elizabeth Akin Sudbury, 90, went to be with the Lord on April 19, 2024 following a stroke and a battle with dementia.

Elizabeth was born on January 13,1934 in Gates, TN to Russell Durward Akin and Thelma Hardy Akin. She attended Halls High School and played on the girls' basketball team. She graduated in 1952 and kept in touch with her schoolmates her entire life.

She married Durward Thomas (Sonny) Sudbury in 1954 and they moved to Memphis. They attended Schoolfield United Methodist Church. They moved to Bartlett in 1989 and enjoyed living close to grandchildren and working in their yard.

She worked in the office at Wyeth Laboratories and MLGW, from which she retired.

She enjoyed cooking, sewing, singing, writing poetry, and gardening. She often received Yard of the Month at her Bartlett home. She also enjoyed volunteering at her church. She joined Bartlett United Methodist Church after the closing of Schoolfield United Methodist Church. She and her mother were accomplished seamstresses, and she made many draperies for family, friends, and her church. She enjoyed traveling with her church and high school friends and went on many adventures with them.

Elizabeth spent the last five years of her life in Hearthside Senior Living in Bartlett. She was blessed to spend her last years in the loving environment there. Many thanks to Donna Roach and the staff for their wonderful care. Many thanks also go to her sitter for the last two years, Myra Berry, who made her life so comfortable and sweet.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her mother and father, Russell and Thelma Akin; her sister, Ruby Akin Fischer; her brother, Ralph Williams; and her husband of 43 years, D.T. (Sonny) Sudbury.

She leaves two daughters: Janice Volner (Mike) and Vickie White (Jay).

She leaves four grandchildren: Valerie McCarley (Jason), Grant Volner (Kimberly), Tommy White (Lacey), and Lindsay White.

She leaves six great grandchildren; Caleb McCarley, Caroline McCarley, Cade Volner, Molly Volner, Alexandra White, and Beau White. She also leaves several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Sudbury's visitation will be held 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25, 2024 until the service time at 2:30 p.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home. Entombment will be in the Memorial Park Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to Bartlett United Methodist Church.