Cleophas O. Thurman Jr.

Cleophas O'Hara Thurman Jr., 74, of Stony Creek was called home on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008. He passed away at Southside Regional Hospital of heart failure.

Cleophas O'Hara Thurman Jr. was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Sept. 27, 1934. He was one of two children born to Cleophas O'Hara Thurman Sr. and Victoria Thurman (Brown). His brother Payton Thurman was born two years later. He was preceded in death by his loving and devoted wife of 47 years Mrs. Sonia Joann Thurman (Hicks). His sons Cleophas Thurman III and Ralph Timothy Thurman and his daughter Victoria Thurman.

The Thurman family moved from Tuscaloosa, Ala., to Darby, Pa., in 1945 to escape the oppression of the segregated South. Cleophas Thurman Jr. graduated from Darby High School in 1953 and upon graduating he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served his country in an active and reserve capacity for more than eight years and received an honorable discharge on April 30, 1963.

During his reserve duty status with the U.S. Army, Cleophas Thurman Jr. moved to Rockville Center, N.Y., to improve his skills as a cook, the profession that he pursued when he was enlisted in the U.S. Army. There he met and fell in love with his life-long partner and wife, Ms. Sonia Joann Hicks of Amityville, N.Y. They were married on Sept. 20, 1958, in Amityville, N.Y. Cleophas Jr. worked several odd jobs during his first few years of marriage to support his new and growing family.

Cleophas Thurman Jr. secured a job with Nassau County Medical Center in the dietary department in 1959. He worked there for more than 32 years as a supervisor of cooks; he retired on May 3, 1991. After retiring he moved to Stony Creek, Va., with his wife of 47 years, Mrs. Sonia Joanne Thurman.

Cleophas Thurman Jr. was very involved within the church. He was a member of New Hope Intuitional Baptist Church in Amityville, N.Y., where he served as a deacon and church steward. After moving to Stony Creek, Va., he joined Galilee Baptist Church, were he was very committed to serving God and ministering God's word.

Cleophas is survived by his devoted son and caretaker, Richard Thurman of Stony Creek; his daughter, Glenness Jones of Charlotte, N.C.; his son and daughter in-law Shannon and Donna Thurman of Broken Arrow, Okla; and his son, Mark Thurman of Delmar, N.Y.; his grandchildren, Curtis Jones of Richmond, Joann Jones, Christopher Jones, Trevor Jones of Charlotte N.C., Victoria Marrs, Daniel Thurman, Sarah Thurman and Jessica Thurman of Broken Arrow, Okla; eight great-grandchildren, one godson and a host of friends, family and other relatives. Cleophas also survived by his close relationship with his brother and sister-in-law Payton and Joan Thurman.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 10:30 a.m. at Galilee Baptist Church, 12392 Lee Ave. in Stony Creek, with the Rev. Linwood James, pastor, officiating. The interment will be in Dinwiddie Memorial Park, 7324 Church Road in Petersburg. The family will receive friends at the chapel of William N. Bland and Son Funeral Home, 137 Harrison St., Petersburg, Monday December 15th from 5 to 7 p.m. Family may be contacted at (434) 246-4603.

The Thurman Family would like to thank everyone for their prayers and condolences. May God continue to bless you and yours.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the staff of William N. Bland and Son Funeral Home, now serving from three locations. (804) 732-7841.

Please send online condolences to: www.blandenterprisesinc.com.