Thelma B. Williams, the third child of the late Joseph and Floria Bush, was born on 6 May 1927 in Aiken County, South Carolina. She came behind Annie Mae and Willie Eva in succession. Then, Juanita came to be the last girl born to this brood and they became known as the Bush Girls. She also had one brother, Miller Ashley. Thelma matriculated in the segregated public school system of Richmond County, Augusta, GA attending C.T. Walker Elementary and A.R. Johnson High School, circa 1945 – 1949. Subsequently, she enrolled at Paine College in the late 1940's only to get interrupted with a marriage and to start a family with McDonald Williams (AKA Mack). The former Thelma Bush and McDonald married 7 October 1955, celebrating 64 years of marriage until Mack's demise in 2019. They had two children, Donald Jay and Patricia Anita, while Mack continued to work as the pastry chef at the Town Tavern Restaurant, where he was also the butcher and chef. Thelma matriculated at Paine College during the era that produced some of the most outstanding graduates of Liberal Arts, Education and Religion. She knew the opportunity of higher education being situated in the "Deep South" and the burgeoning rise of professional women in the workforce. It was her ambition to be armed with a college degree to become "all that she could be" to uplift herself, her family and community. Achieving the Bachelor of Arts in Education from Paine College, she was immediately hired by Richmond County Public School System. Interestingly, her very first teaching assignment even before obtaining her Bachelors was at a small segregated Christian School in Burke County, GA. As a wife, mother, and student once again, Mrs. Williams enrolled at the University of Georgia (UGA) in the early 1970's as part of an outreach program for minority educators. It was at UGA that she earned two graduate degrees (Master of Education & Specialist in Education), where she excelled. She retired from the Richmond County Public School system May 1999. Thelma's love for Paine College was unyielding. She served in a variety of roles in the local Alumni chapter to support educational excellence and the infrastructure to raise funds. Recently, Thelma was recognized as a living Legend, Paine College National Alumni Association – Augusta Chapter. Thelma was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church, now Macedonia Church of Augusta, for over 90 years. She served as a Deaconess, Sunday School Teacher and youth leader for many years. Thelma leaves a wonderful legacy behind to her children, Donald J Williams, Fulton, MD; Patricia A Johnson, Augusta, GA; her sister, Juanita (Walter) Chavous, Conyers, GA; her grandchildren, Patrick and Eric Johnson, Atlanta, GA; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. A Celebration of Life will be held at Macedonia Church of Augusta, 1828 Wrightsboro Rd, Augusta, GA 30904, Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. Family Visitation, 10 a.m – 11 a.m.; Zeta Phi Beta, Incorporated Burial Service 11 a.m.– 11:30 a.m. Interment will immediately follow at Mt Olive Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Paine College on behalf of Mrs. Thelma B. Williams. You may donate via a Givelify Link: https://giv.li/w3qpyy or mail in a payment: PCNAA-Augusta Chapter, P.O. Box 14238, Augusta, GA 30919 Williams Funeral Home, 1765 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Augusta, GA