Thelma Wise Speir

Thelma Wise Speir December 29, 1919 January 12, 2014 Thelma Wise Speir (94) was born on December 29, 1919 to William and Addie Sikes Wise and died Sunday, January 12, 2014. Thelma was 4 years old when her father died of appendicitis at the age of 41. Thelma had one sister, Alouise Wise and a brother, Carroll Strickland. Thelma was raised in Clyde, Georgia and went to the Clyde School until the eighth grade. She went to Ways Station and on to Richmond Hill High School. She graduated from high school after completing the eleventh grade in 1937. Her high school years were some of the years when Henry Ford was very active in Richmond Hill and funded the school and lunch programs. Mr. Ford would bring his orchestra from Michigan to play in Richmond Hill and have dances for the high school. Mr. Ford sponsored the graduating class trip to see his assembly plant in Dearborn, Michigan followed by a sight-seeing trip to Niagara Falls and New York City. After high school, Thelma attended Paris Beauty School in Savannah. She married William Wiley Speir after Billy attended Georgia Tech. They were married for 55 years. Thelma was a member of the Richmond Hill United Methodist Church. She was a person who put God first in her life and worked on many projects for the church. She enjoyed meeting new members and welcoming them to the community and the Methodist church. Thelma helped to begin the Bunny Club that raised money for the building fund and helped to organize the yearly bazaar in conjunction with the annual Bar-B-Que. She arranged flowers for the church alter every Sunday for many years. Thelma is survived by her daughter Kay Speir Spence and husband, Barry Spence of Richmond Hill. Also surviving are a sister-in-law, Jowanna Strickland of Richmond Hill and a brother in law, George Bingham of North Palm Beach, Florida. Nieces and nephews include: Bill Brogdon of Pensacola, Florida; Gene and Carole Brogdon of Richmond Hill, Georgia, Cheri and David Dorondo of Cullowhee, North Carolina, Speir and Gail Flanders of Hinesville, Georgia, George and Cecile Flanders of Lancaster, SC, Spencer and Carolyn Helm of Clarksville, Georgia, Bob and Maggie Hogan of Dover, Maryland, Ramon and Nordy Meguiar of Savannah, Georgia, David and Joyce Smith of Stewart, Florida, Speir Alan and Nancy Smith of Okeechobee, Florida and Dana and Bernadette Strickland of Midway, Georgia. Proceeded in death by her husband, William Wiley (Billy) Speir; sister, Alouise Wise; brother, Carroll Strickland; sisters-in law, Gwen and Norwood Flanders, Elizabeth and Jimmy Brogdon, and Peggy Bingham. Visitation: Thursday, January 16, 2014 from 11:00 to 1:00 at Richmond Hill United Methodist Church. Funeral Services will be: Thursday, January 16, 2014 at 1:00 at the Richmond Hill United Methodist Church with burial to follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers: Carlton Gill, Roger Parker, Richard Davis, Jimmy Henderson, Clyde Smith and Richard Blige. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Thelma Wise Speir, please visit our flower store.