RETHA L. THORNE
Nov. 14, 1915-Dec. 4, 2011
WILSON -- Retha Pearl Lamm Thorne, 96, formerly of Fremont, left us on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, for her Heavenly home with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Funeral services will be conducted 1 p.m. Wednesday at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, 1100 Forest Hills Road N.W., Wilson. Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park. The Rev. Blaine Hughes will officiate.
The family will receive friends Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Joyner's Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, and other times at 2720 Salem Church Road, Goldsboro.
Retha was one of those rare people who truly lived a rich and fulfilled Christian life. Her faith in God and His will sustained her throughout the past 96 years, and she rarely missed her nightly prayers for her family and others who needed prayer. This has really been a blessing to her family. She was a charter member of Forest Hills Presbyterian Church and was honored with a special service by the church members on her 95th birthday. She celebrated her 96th birthday at the Brian Center in Goldsboro. Retha's life reflected the many contributions she made to her family, friends, and church, with sewing projects such as quilts and other items she made by hand to be sold at the annual bazaar, along with quilts and baby quilts she made for her children, grandchildren, and other family members. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend with a big heart and gentle spirit. She gave to others much more than she ever asked for or received. Retha's spirit will live on forever through the lives of family and friends she loved so much. She will be sorely missed.
Surviving are her daughter, Frances Thorne Scott and husband, Thurman, of Durham; two sons, Jimmie D. Thorne Jr., of both Fremont and Goldsboro, and Dennis Gerald Thorne of Wilson; eight grandchildren: Gene Scott, Dale Scott, Vicky Scott Fabian, Michael Thorne, Steven Thorne, Russell Spivey, Carrie Thorne Fair and Brandy Thorne Shillito; 11 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Annie Belle Lamm Mercer and Agnes Lamm Aycock Maxton, both of Wilson; and a number of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Jimmie Dee Thorne Sr.; her daughter, Shirley Thorne Scott-Spivey-Mihelic; her parents, Wiley Harvey Lamm and Mattie Joyner Lamm; a sister, Betty Christine "Tincy" Barnes; two brothers, Wiley Felton Lamm and Richard Thomas Lamm; and a wonderful daughter-in-law, Jean Newsome Thorne.
The Thorne family would like to thank everyone for the visits and cards Retha received while she was living at both Spring Arbor of Wilson and the Brian Center in Goldsboro, along with a special thanks to the staff at the Brian Center in Goldsboro who were wonderful in taking great care and giving help in nursing while she was ill.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be directed to Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, 1100 Forest Hills Road N.W., Wilson, NC 27896 or the Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 2402 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27534.
Condolences may be directed to www.joyners.net.
Published in Obituaries on December 6, 2011 1:49 PM