Obituary of Thelma Ward Shannon

Funeral services for Mrs. Thelma Ward Shannon, 92, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 5, 2009, at the chapel of Golden Funeral Home in Bastrop, Louisiana with Rev. Jim Ingram and Rev. Dave Chapman officiating. Burial will follow at the Wilmot Cemetery in Wilmot, Arkansas. Visitation will be held Friday from 5-8 p.m. at Golden Funeral Home. Mrs. Shannon died peacefully Wednesday, September 2, 2009, at Morehouse General Hospital after a brief illness. She was born December 24, 1916, in Vimville, Mississippi, and moved to Parkdale, Arkansas in 1917. She married Charley Shannon in January 1942 and they lived in Parkdale until 1958 when they moved to Bastrop, Louisiana. Mrs. Shannon taught American History from 1958 until her retirement in 1980. She had previously taught in Arkansas for 5 years. She attended LA Tech prior to World War II and earned her undergraduate degree in 1959 from the University of Arkansas/Monticello and her graduate degree from ULM in 1977. She was active in her church, First Baptist Church in Bastrop, and the community. She was a member of the Literary Forum and the Morehouse Educators, Retired. On her 90th birthday, she received recognition from the Louisiana House of Representatives through Rep. Charles McDonald. After her retirement she enjoyed traveling, especially to see her great-grandchildren in Mississippi. She is survived by her daughters, Judy Bell and her husband Charles Bell of Monroe, LA, Nadine Coleman and her husband David Coleman of Petal, MS; grandchildren, Chuck Bell of San Francisco, CA, Margot Bell of Shreveport, LA, Shannon Decker of Petal, MS, Mary Ellen Mangum and her husband Kris Mangum of Petal, MS; and great-grandchildren, Cole and Caroline Decker, Ally, Molly, Macy and Kristopher Mangum, all of Petal, MS. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charley Shannon, six sisters, three brothers, and a grandson, Thomas Bell. The family wishes to thank her church family, her friends, and the caregivers at the Arbor and Morehouse General Hospital, and Dr. Carter Cox for their kind attention and kindness. Memorials may be made to the Activity Center at First Baptist Church or to The Wellspring in Monroe.