Thelma A. Pepper

May 8, 1927 – July 13, 2025

Thelma Pepper was born on Mother’s Day May 8, 1927, in Thomson, Georgia and passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on July 13, 2025.

Her early life was spent in Georgia with her five sisters and loving parents. She began working in federal civil service as a teenager, and was proud to tell anyone listening about her stint as a model. An independent woman, especially considering the time period, she enjoyed road trips with her girlfriends driving across the country, traveling as far as New York and California from her small Georgian town.

Later, at age twenty-nine, she met and married Don Pepper and together they built a fifty-five year marriage rooted in faith, family, and devotion until his passing in 2011. Thelma was the proud mother of three children and the beloved grandmother to five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A military wife, she always made a home for her young family no matter where Don was stationed and during his many times away on extended temporary duty assignments. Her family was her greatest joy, and she was a constant source of warmth, wisdom, and support.

Thelma worked in federal civil service for thirty-three years, along with keeping a clean and organized home and having home-made suppers ready every night. She was a gifted cook – especially notable were the best ever fried chicken, Sunday roast with gravy, meatloaf, many deserts and the family famous “pink stuff.” Even with all of her daily activities, she always found the time to support her daughter’s interest in horses as well as her sons’ sports pursuits. She would even haul Cheryl and her horses to showdeos, pulling a heavy horse trailer to deserted rural areas and not returning until the wee hours of the morning. She was an avid bowler, competing in leagues for many years. Later in life she often participated in 5K races and daily walks throughout her neighborhood. She was even on the front page of the June 14, 2017 Shreveport Times, with the headline “At 90, runner ‘not ready to quit yet’”.

Thelma was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and a member of the Barksdale AFB Protestant Chapel for many years, where she worshipped with humility and joy, and was an active participant in the choir, the hand-bell ensemble, and the PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel). Her faith was the foundation of her life, guiding her in everything she did and inspiring all who knew her.

Thelma will be remembered as a kind and loving soul — devoted mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, friend, and servant of Christ. Her legacy is one of faith, family, and compassion, and her presence will be deeply missed by all who were blessed to know her.

She was devoted to her family, retiring from civil service just in time to care for her first local grandchild, continuing to step in and care for each of her five grandchildren whenever needed.

In her later years, she stood faithfully by her husband’s side until his passing, spending every day for two years at the Bossier City War Veterans home where he was a resident.

She is survived by her son Don Pepper, Jr. and his wife Wendy, daughter Cheryl Webb and her husband Mark, son Kevin Pepper, grandchildren Matthew Pepper and his wife Stephanie, Amanda Pepper, Michael Webb, Jonathan Webb and Cameron Webb, great-grandchildren Madison Pepper and Grayson Pepper, her sisters Edith Austin and her husband Russ, Marge Frederickson, and a host of nieces, nephews and their children. She is preceded in death by parents, Clyde Vernon and Ruby Tankersley Steed, stepmother Billie Marie Steed, and by her sisters Jeanette Davis, Elizabeth Harper Chamblee, Verna Steed Kennedy, Jan Long and Billie Marie Harrison.

Honoring Thelma as pallbearers are Matthew Pepper, Amanda Pepper, Michael Webb, Jonathan Webb, Cameron Webb and Mark Webb.

A celebration of Thelma’s life will be held on Thursday, July 17, 2025 at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home, 601 US-80, Haughton, LA 71037, officiated by Hospice Chaplain Don Francis. Family and friends will gather for a visitation beginning at 1:00 pm and the service will begin at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in her memory to a charity of the donor’s choice.