Thelma Lightner

Thelma Lightner NORTH BRUNSWICK Thelma Lightner, born Thelma Harley on Sept. 21, 1919, in Dillon, SC, to the late Richard and Odessa Brown Harley, departed this life on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015, at McCarrick Care Center in Somerset, NJ. In 1923, the Harley family moved to Trenton, NJ, where Thelma was educated in the Trenton public school system, and graduated from Trenton Central High School in 1938. She furthered her education in cosmetology and graduated in 1945 from Apex Beauty College in Philadelphia, PA. Thelma worked at Syphrett Hair Salon in Trenton and at Amalgamated Garment Industry as a seamstress for 30 years until retiring in 1983. Thelma began her Christian education by attending Sunday School at Union Baptist Church when it was still on Belvidere Street. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior in 1934 under the leadership of Rev. A. S. Grayson. She was a dedicated worker who served as a Sunday School secretary, teacher, and junior usher. Later, she served on the Senior Usher Board for 65 years until retiring as emerita in 2001.She served as a church clerk and was a member of the Angelic and Senior choirs. Thelma was appointed deaconess in 1981 by Rev. L. Earl Tolbert and served until retiring as deaconess emerita in 2001. In addition to her church commitments, Thelma was a member of the North Trenton and Reading Senior Citizens Centers, the Forever Young Club, the N.A.A.C. P. and the Retired Senior Volunteer Programs. She received the Isabelle Hickman Award for volunteerism in June 1997. Thelma was happily married to George L. Lightner for 49 years before the Lord called him home on March 25, 2005. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by a son, Ronald G. Lightner; her brother and twin sister, William Harley and Elma Harley Kelley, and nephew and niece, Leonard and Barbara Kelley. Missing her dearly are a loving and devoted daughter, Cynthia Lightner of North Brunswick, NJ; loving nieces and nephew, J. Delores Baker of Ewing, NJ; Joyce Pickett, Patricia Taylor, Gloria Williams, Karen Davis, and Kenneth Kelley (Kim), all of Trenton, NJ, and Denise Israel of Philadelphia, PA.; cousin, Ann Antron of Willingboro, NJ, and a host of other nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Thelma Lightner

September 21, 1919 - August 30, 2015