Thelma Alene Prevost

Thelma Alene Prevost, 81, of Matthews, died Monday, April 22, 2019. Through the blessing of hospice, she was able to be at home surrounded by family. Thelma was born in Wilmington, NC, on January 20, 1938, the daughter of James and Thelma Farrar Todd. She grew up there and on October 21, 1956, she married Clayton Leander Prevost, Sr. in Masonboro Baptist Church in Wilmington, NC. In 1994, they moved to Charlotte, NC, where she and her husband were founding members of Joy Christian Fellowship in Matthews. She did numerous jobs but had most recently been an office administrator for Joy Christian Fellowship from its inception until 2009 when she retired. Thelma enjoyed working with her hands, especially painting and cooking. She also enjoyed reading. Most of all, she enjoyed the time spent with family and friends and she will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Thelma is survived by her children: her daughter Cindy (husband Todd) Garner of Matthews, NC, and their two children: Caleb and Claire Garner; her son Clay (wife Tanya) Prevost of Charlotte, NC, and their children: Samantha, Jake and Abbey Prevost; and five siblings: James Todd of Kentucky, Jack (wife Pat) Todd of Wilmington, NC, Bill Todd of Wilmington, Al Brown (wife Linda) of Wilmington, and Sandra (husband Jimmy) Miller of Wilmington. Thelma is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Clayton, in 2005. Services will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2019. The family will greet friends at the Lowe-Neddo Funeral Home beginning at 12:30. At 2 pm, all present will proceed to Sunset Memory Gardens where a graveside farewell will take place. "Most of us have never lived in a world without Alene, our Mom. She was the first born of six children and nurtured and cared for them in a less than perfect atmosphere from the age of eight. This was phase one at her care giving journey. Mom met my Dad on a blind date and was married in 1956. She moved to Connecticut with him and started her own family, leaving her Wilmington home and siblings. Mom often said that it felt like she was leaving her own kids. Two of her brothers followed her to Connecticut where they found their own lives, brides and futures. Soon she had two kids of her own, "us". When she worked outside the home, she did so only during school hours. Her dream job was being a wife and mother. This was phase 2 of her care giving journey. Before her youngest child graduated High School our Dad had a massive heart attack. He was 45 years old. She was 41. Mom cared for him for the next 26 years being his constant companion through multiple surgeries, countless ambulance calls and life threatening scenarios. He left her as a widow in 2005. During the time she cared for Dad she also cared for her aging mother. Mom received her mother back into her home in 2008 where she cared for her until she peacefully passed away. This completed phase 3 of her care giving journey. In the years that followed, God began to "unfold" Alene our Mom. She was motivated by Him to find out who she was after spending her whole life giving to others. Mom began painting classes, did an art show, took a beach trip to paint with some art buddies. It was a gift of a freedom she had never enjoyed before. Mom began to try new food, do new things, even learning to ride the John Deere mower at the age of 68... not that she ever mowed, but she could have and that was the point. Mom loved God's Word and studied as often as she could, which is evidenced by the multiple three-ring binder notebooks on her bookcases labeled and organized with her notes. She was open to whoever God revealed Himself to be and was not bound by fear of what she did not understand. The music playing at her family gathering is just a sample of how diverse she was. Mom will be missed terribly but in her words just the other day, "Remember no matter what happens...I WIN!" and so she completed phase 4 of her care giving journey...God instructed her and took joy in her learning to care for herself."

Thelma Alene Prevost

January 20, 1938 - April 22, 2019