Obituary of Thelma Ann Reynolds Brett

Thelma Ann Reynolds Brett May 10, 1923 – October 19, 2017 Thelma Ann Reynolds Brett, 94, passed away Thursday, October 19, 2017 at Windward Gardens in Camden, Maine. Thelma was born May 10,1923 in Pinewood, South Carolina to the late Ralph Carey Reynolds and Zula Theo Corbett Reynolds. Thelma had many special memories of her childhood in Pinewood surrounded by her late sister, Mary Lois Reynolds DuRant and numerous cousins. Thelma excelled academically and was Valedictorian of the graduating class of 1940 of Pinewood High School. She also served as the student body president. Following her graduation from High School, Thelma attended Columbia College in Columbia, South Carolina where she majored in English. At the time of her graduation, Summa Cum Laude, from Columbia College in 1944, Thelma had served the college in many capacities including Student Council President. Thelma also received awards and prizes for academic achievements as well as service to the College. She was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Upon graduation from College, Thelma taught High School English, very briefly. She, in her own words, “hated it”, and forged a different path for herself. She procured a position in Alumni Affairs with the University of South Carolina. In that capacity, Thelma traveled throughout the United States interfacing with Alumni of the University. Part of her travels took her to New York City where she jumped from Alumni Relations to hotels. She served as the Secretary to the General Manager of the Vanderbilt Hotel in New York City for several years. She then moved to Chicago where she worked in Public Relations for the national United Methodist Church. As part of this position, she traversed the United States by plane and train. It was on one of those airplane trips that she sat next to the man who would become her husband. Thelma and the late Vernon Brett were married in Chicago on August 19, 1960. They then moved to Denver, Colorado where their daughter Mary Susan was born in 1963. Vernon's career took them to Louisiana in 1973. They settled on the North Shore where Thelma did many things from newspaper editing to substitute teaching. For the last 15 years of her career she lead a logistics team, at the present Lockheed Martin Corporation, writing technical instructions for the Space Shuttle. She was highly regarded and won numerous awards. Thelma and Vernon came to Maine on a schooner trip in 1984 and it was at that time Thelma and Vern adopted Maine as their second home. They divided their time between Maine and South Carolina for many years before becoming permanent Maine residents in 2001. Settling in the Searsport and Stockton Springs area, Thelma was involved in many community activities including the First Congregational Church of Searsport, where she served as a Deacon as well as Secretary and President of the Women's Fellowship. Thelma was also quite active with the Penobscot Marine Museum and the Waldo County Hospital Aid. Thelma continued to live in Stockton Springs following Vernon's death in 2007. She moved to Windward Gardens in 2015. Thelma lived life to the fullest. She traveled the world and had many wonderful memories. She loved people, especially children, and she loved pets. She also loved writing, her family, nice clothes and high heeled shoes. In addition to her parents, sister and her husband, Thelma was predeceased by two brothers, Norman Reynolds and Ralph Carey Reynolds, Jr., both of whom died in infancy. In addition to her daughter Mary Susan and son-in-law Peter of Camden, Thelma is survived by her beloved God daughter Lauren Carpenter Kroes of Dallas, Texas as well as her nephews and their families. The family wishes to thank Thelma's caregivers throughout her later years and most recently the incredibly kind and caring staff on Windward Center, at Windward Gardens in Camden as well as Beacon Hospice. Internment will be at a later date at the Reynolds Family Cemetery in Pinewood, SC. In keeping with Thelma's love of animals, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Thelma's memory to; PAWS, 123 John Street, Camden, Maine 04843.