Thelma Hale (4-1-13) service 4-5-13

Thelma Hale

Thelma Christine Smith Hale was born on Feb. 6, 1921, in Savannah. She was the daughter of Willam Harvey Smith Sr. and Retta Fowler Smith. She lived her entire life in Hardin County where her maternal and paternal ancestors settled in the early 1800s. She died April 1 at Hardin Medical Center.

She was united in marriage to James Jacob Hale on Dec. 24, 1938, at Corinth, Miss. Her beloved James preceded her in death on Oct. 4, 2009. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, daughter and grandmother.

She was a life long member of East End United Methodist Church since 1941. She was a member of the board, a Sunday school teacher, and a member of United Methodist Women. She was always in church until her health prevented her from attending.

In her younger years, she worked as a sales clerk at Gallagher’s. She always worked with her husband as a bookkeeper in his service station. When he became sheriff of Hardin County, she also was the bookkeeper for the sheriff’s department.

She is survived by one daughter, Rebecca Hale Jennings and her husband David of Hendersonville, Tenn.; a granddaughter, Kristina Jennings Wait and her husband, Brian of Hendersonville, Tenn.; and a grandson, Elijah C. Wait. She is also survived by two brothers, William Harvey Smith Jr. of Savannah and Gene Martin Smith and his wife Joyce of Jackson, Tenn., as well as many nieces and nephews who affectionally knew her as Mey.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Dorothy Smith Morgan; a brother, James Robert "Bauldy" Smith; and her dear nephew Kirk Martin Smith.

Mrs. Hale lived a full and happy life and was a well respected and admired member of the community. She will be missed by her family and friends.

Family requests donations to be made to charities of one’s choice.

Services were held on Friday, April 5, at 11 a.m., at Shackelford Chapel in Savannah with Robert Sadler officiating. Burial followed in the Memory Gardens at Savannah.