Thelma Ree Joiner

Thelma Ree Joiner was born May 1, 1944, to the late Annie Bell and Columbus Joiner in Sardis, MS.

She attended Taylor Elementary School and graduated from Oxford Training School.

She professed a hope in Christ at an early age and joined Harrisonville M.B. Church where she served as a choir member, as well as an usher and a missionary attending several church conferences. She later moved her membership to East St. Peter M.B. Church where she also served as a choir member, an usher, the mission board, and the mother board. She remained there until her health prevented her from attending.

She worked at several jobs during her lifetime: Morgan Cleaners, Emerson Electric, Oxford Elementary, Sorority Houses at Ole Miss and before her final retirement, she worked as a caregiver for several doctors in the Lafayette County area. She spent her retired years doing Word Search puzzles and watching old westerns. She also loved to go fishing.

Thelma was married to Oliver Sanders and later to Johnny Murray. No children were born to either union, yet she served as a maternal figure to many of her nieces and nephews along with many other youth that she met.

On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, Thelma passed away at her home. She leaves to mourn her passing two sisters, Clara Henderson of Oxford, MS and Rose Hart of Chicago, IL; two brothers, Harvey Joiner of Oxford, MS and Columbus Joiner, Jr. of Chicago, IL; a special nephew, Minister Thomas Rogers, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Waiting to greet her will be her parents, sister, Angie Draper, brothers, Robert Earl, William David, James L., and Willie; plus, numerous of others that she met along her life journey.