Thelma Griffin

Thelma May Griffin (née Butterworth), aged 94, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2024, in Temple, Texas. Born on February 20, 1930, in Nashville, Tennessee, Thelma lived a life marked by her devotion to family, her faith, and her community.

Thelma was only 14 when she married the young sailor who would be the love of her life. J.W. was stationed in Kingsville, Texas and she traveled there for their wedding. His scheduled deployment to the Pacific Theater never occurred and they relocated to Tennessee where their son, Jay, was born in 1945 and their daughter Shirley Lavern in 1948. J.W. ultimately answered his calling and became a Methodist Minister for many years, transitioning to a chaplain for the Veterans Administration until his death in 1991. She moved to Belton, TX to be with her daughter and met her second husband, Vernon, at the Methodist Church. They were married in 2000 and lived an amazing life for 20 years until his passing in 2020. It was then that she was introduced to her love of travel.

Thelma was a beacon of love and joy, known for her outgoing, friendly nature and impeccable sense of style. Her ability to light up a room with her singing and storytelling will be dearly missed by all who knew her. A lifelong homemaker, Thelma embraced her role as a minister's wife to her first husband, J. W. with dedication, often assisting with pastoral duties. After remarrying and relocating to Texas she supported her community through her work at the First Methodist Church in Belton.

Her hobbies included telling stories that brought laughter to many, shopping, singing in her church choir, traveling, and creating beautiful colored pencil artwork. Her life was a testament to her vibrant spirit and her unwavering commitment to her faith.

Thelma was predeceased by her husbands, Vernon Griffin and J.W. Williams, her parents John and Dixie Butterworth, her brother John, Jr., and her sister Katherine Key. She is survived by her son Jay Williams and his wife Barbara of Pearland, TX and her daughter Shirley Wiedman of Hutchinson, KS. She is also survived by her grandchildren Cheryl Williams, Pamela Lupo, Stephen Williams and Johnnie Hugo, in addition to her 9 great-grandchildren.

A service to honor Thelma’s life will be held at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Belton, Texas on Saturday, September 7, 2024, with a visitation starting at 11 am and service immediately following at 12 pm noon. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery in Somerville, Texas. Thelma's legacy of love, laughter, and service will forever be cherished by those she leaves behind.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.