Thelma Elaine James

Although we are deeply saddened by her passing on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, the family of Mrs. Thelma Elaine James is happy to have shared almost 89 loving years with her. Thelma, also known as "Shorty" was born on April 10, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the late Eva Price and Hezekiah West. She was the second of four children, but became a surrogate mother to her younger siblings. Thelma was educated in the Philadelphia School System, receiving her high school diploma in the spring of 1945. As a young lady, Thelma understood the benefits of working, maintaining professionalism and developing a strong work ethic. These characteristics served her well from the beginning of her professional life and were consistent throughout the years. Thelma had a long career that included working with the Internal Revenue Service, the Bell Telephone Company and Girard Bank. Thelma spent the majority and her most enjoyable years as a teller for Mellon Bank, from which she retired in 1990. She was a joy to all of her customers, who looked forward to her smile and engaging conversation when they walked up to her teller window. Thelma married Delbert Mathis in 1949, producing one daughter, Cynthia Jeanne. She married her second husband and the love of her life, Charles Warren James, who was affectionately known as "Sug" to family and friends. They married on June 22, 1963 and remained together until his passing on Oct 19, 1988. They enjoyed each other's company over many years; traveling, socializing and partnering, but always together. Thelma was also a trophy-winning bowler on her neighborhood league and a very competitive card player. She enjoyed playing cards with her grandchildren and later great-grandchildren, where she found great joy in laughing about happy memories while beating you profusely in a game of Uno. Thelma became known as "Shorty" as her grandchildren surpassed her in height, but never in might. Shorty was a lover of life, laughter and music and learning new things. Most of all, Shorty loved her grandchildren more than anything in the world. Thelma had an amazing spirit, always greeted everyone with a sincere smile, engaged everyone she ever met in conversation and developed long-standing relationships with almost everyone she met. Her smile and laughter lit up the room and she was loved by many, whom she would freely "adopt" as a new family member. Of course, her favorite past time was shopping. Thelma joined the Ray of Hope Christian Church, where she gave her life to Christ, in November of 2011. She thoroughly enjoyed the ministry and the music. Thelma leaves to mourn her passing: a brother, Clyde Everett West; a sister, Dorothy Mae West; a daughter, Cynthia Serchion; two granddaughters, Nicole Serchion Dennis and Traci Serchion Johnson; 4 great grandchildren, Julian Armond Serchion, Elana Janaie Hunter, Gavin Ellis Johnson, and Kendal Ellise Johnson; nieces and nephews; and a host of loving relatives, extended family and friends. She will be dearly missed by all.