Obituary of Ella Mae Thurman

Reflections of Ella Mae Thurman

Ella Mae was born on June 5th, 1927 to Elijah Sanders and Mary Forte Sanders in the Arkadelphia Community, Old Boston, Texas. She was the fifth of eleven children.

Ella attended the public school system and she graduated high school. She married Rev. Emmett Thurman Sr. and to this union nine children were born. She worked as a laborer at Stewart Lumber Company, Day & Zimmerman Ammunition and retired from TISD maintenance/janitorial department.

Ella loved the Lord and joined church at an early age. She loved singing God’s praises. She was a former member of Arkadelphia Church, New Town Baptist, Fellowship Missionary Church and Red Springs Baptist Church, where she served faithfully until her health failed. She was a choir member, Sunday School teacher and mission leader.

Ella loved her family dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents; eight siblings; her husband, Rev. Emmett Thurman Sr.; and one son, Kelvin R. Thurman.

She leaves cherished memories with five sons, Billy E. Carter (Fresno, CA), Conan L. Sanders (Sara) (Augusta, GA), Emmett Thurman Jr. (Barbara) and Rev. Barry Thurman (Renee) (all of Texarkana, TX) and Tracy Thurman (Ardmore, OK); three daughters, Jacqueline Clay and Labrethia Hill (Jeff) (all of Texarkana, TX) and Teresa Stuart (Hope, AR); one brother, Calvin Sanders (Shreveport, LA); two sisters, Auri Nelson (Texarkana, TX) and Lois Barber (New Boston, TX); and  thirty-two grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.