Thelma Marie Retherford McCall

T. Marie McCall (Thelma M. McEachin Retherford), was born September 6, 1921 in Charleston, South Carolina and died in Jacksonville, Florida on June 2, 2014. Her mother, Emma Mae Brown, born in 1898, was a Florida native. Her father, Charles Totten McEachin, was born at McRae, Georgia in 1886.

T. Marie's family relocated to Florida when she was three years old and the following year, the family moved to Jacksonville. T. Marie remained in the area or its surrounds for the rest of her life. She married Bob Retherford, II (given name) of Lockhart, Texas in 1942, and they were married for 57 years until his death in December 2000. In 2002, she married Joseph McCall, who died in 2013.

She is survived by her children, Bob Retherford, III (Nancy); Emily Retherford Lisska (Lawrence); William Charles "Bill" Retherford; and her grandchildren, Shawn Retherford (Cori); Tiffany Trivedi (Bobby); Joseph R. Lisska; William R. Lisska; and a sister, Helen Gay (Frank). Her great grandchildren are Nate, Lily and Andrew Retherford and Ansley and Tristan Trivedi. Six of her siblings preceded her in death, and many nieces and nephews and their children survive her.

An Andrew Jackson High School graduate, she continued a connection with Jackson graduates throughout her life, including activities with the Jackson Jills. As a young woman, Thelma or "Mac," as she was known at the time, skated telegrams at Jacksonville's Western Union, on the corner of Laura and Duval, now home to the Museum of Contemporary Art. As a civilian employee during WWII, she'd leave her Springfield home at 4 a.m. to catch a bus to NAS Jacksonville for daily duty. During the war, she met Bob Retherford at a Camp Blanding dance, and they married within months.

After spending many years raising her children and as homeroom mother, Boy Patrol leader and PTA President at Brentwood Elementary, she returned to the work force, employed by Ivey's Department Store in downtown Jacksonville. Later, with her husband, Bob, she opened Retherford Realty and enjoyed a career in North Florida residential sales.

By any name, Thelma, T. Marie, Mac, Mom, Mother, Grandmother or Grandma T, she was a vivacous and fiercely independent woman; a devoted wife, mother and grandmother who lived life fully.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests you remember T. Marie to a favorite charity or as you wish. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 7, at ten-thirty o'clock in the morning at Hardage – Giddens, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville.