Thelma Taulbee

Thelma Aline Taulbee, daughter of Benjamin Issac and Jewell Dean (Sanders) Taylor, was born July 14, 1939, in the Tailholt Community and went home to rest with God on February 13, 2021. She passed peacefully in her home surrounded by family at the age of 81 years, 7 months.

Thelma was a daughter, a sister, a wife to an elder in the church, a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. She loved her family dearly. She was baptized into the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn in 1954 by Claudie Neelie. She was a godly woman who loved the church and serving the Lord. She married Leon Taulbee on May 14, 1955 and they were married nearly 52 years at the time of his passing in 2007. Their life together was always an example of faith and love. Thelma was a gifted midwife who assisted in the birth of many babies over the years and she did this with love, care, strength and God. She passed her immense knowledge in this gift to many sisters in the church. She loved to sew dresses for her daughters and taught them how to do many crafts. She was a second mother to many of her grandchildren and the friends of those children joined in calling her "Mema." Anytime they stopped by, her family and friends could always enjoy her famous friendship bread, oatmeal cookies and peanut butter on popcorn. You could find her singing, praying, reading, serving God, playing Chinese checkers, and having fun with her children and grandchildren at the creek; all done with her warm smile. Thelma treated everyone with kindness, love and understanding. She was the voice of reason and comfort to the many that sought to be counseled by her. There is nothing we could say that would do Thelma's imprint in this life justice; just that she will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leon Taulbee; her infant daughter, Renata Linn Taulbee; her sister, Sally Linder and her brother, Bennie Taylor.

She is survived by a loving family which includes her sons, Ronnie Leon Taulbee of Welling, David Wayne Taulbee of Welling, and Kevin Leroy Taulbee and wife Summer of Welling; her daughters, Diana Lynn Johnson of Welling, and Laura Ann James of Oklahoma City; her son-in-law, Monty James of Oklahoma City; her sisters, Letha Hood of Tahlequah, Wanda Chambers of Oklahoma City, and Carol Weir and husband Earl of Tulsa; 15 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren with one on the way, 3 great-great-grandchildren, and numerous relatives.