Thelma Larkins Bland Tolliver, 87, of Fairmont, ascended to her heavenly father on Thursday (July 5, 2012) at the Arbors at Fairmont.

She was born Jan. 13, 1925 in Osage, the second daughter and seventh child of the late William and Viola Cooper Larkins.

She received her formal education from the Marion and Kanawha County school systems. She attended Dunbar School and was a 1944 graduate of Garnet High School in Charleston. After graduation she attended West Virginia State College, West Virginia Business College and Fairmont State University, receiving her certificate for kindergarten and tutorial aide. She was retired from the Marion County Board of Education where she was employed for 15 years.

She accepted Christ at the early age of 10 and united with Mount Zion Baptist Church in Fairmont, where she was baptized. Her tenure there lasted for a combined 30 years. She was a member of the Missionary Society, sang in the Young Adult Choir, Terrestal Choir and was one of the founders and past president of the Gospel Chorus. She devoted her time and talent working with the youth there and at other churches and served eloquently throughout her life.

In addition, she was a former member of Welcome Baptist Church where she was past president of the Missionary Society, former member of Morning Star Baptist Church where she served in the Young Adult Choir and was a Sunday school teacher for 11 years. For five years, she was a member and trustee of Chosen Few Church, which was organized in her home. Recently, she rejoined Morning Star Baptist Church, where she was a member of the Missionary Society and the Women of Purpose Ministry.

Thelma was always eager to help in any way she could, including making sweet potato pies for church functions. She was affectionately known both far and near as someone you could count on in your time of need. She was also a member of the former Marion Temple Elks Lodge No. 153, past president of the Monongahela Women’s Council, member of the Glovers Success Court of Colanthes No. 71 and the Eastland Eastern Star of Dayton, Ohio.

She leaves to cherish her memory one sister, Edna Drew of Dayton, Ohio; several nieces including: Ceola Elizabeth Houston of Dayton, Ohio, Maxine McCoy of Farmington, Brenda (Albert) Stenson of McKeesport, Pa., and Delphene Larkins of Jacksonville, Fla.; several nephews including: Michael Johnson of Pennsylvania, Roland Johnson of Fairmont, and Alan Johnson of McKeesport, Pa.; several great-nieces and -nephews including: Belinda (Tommy) Brewer and Theresa Johnson, both of Fairmont; and special friends, Edith Evans and Anita Washington, both of Fairmont.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Desadee Bland and Wesley Tolliver; two sisters, Ceola Sumpter and Beatrice Johnson; and six brothers, William, James, Milton Sr., Walter, Wilbur Sr. and Edward Larkins.

Forming a lasting record of admiration, Thelma will be remembered as being a warm, loving, kind, compassionate and godly person and will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

Friends may call at JG Lampkin Funeral Home from 2-9 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral services will be held at noon Thursday at Morning Star Baptist Church with the Rev. Wesley Q. Dobbs officiating and the Rev. Albert Stenson assisting. Burial will follow at Grandview Memorial Gardens.