Thelma Jean (Perry) Hereford

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: - Ecclesiastes 3:1

Our dear mother Thelma Jean Perry Hereford sadly passed away on May 17, 2023, at the age of 77.  She was a wonderful mother who was always there when we needed her.  She also had many friends and was a well-loved member of the community in Florissant, Missouri.  She was born in Oakland, California on July 23, 1945, to the late Readie Perry and Viola Anderson Perry Jones.  Her father worked on the railroad, and her mother worked at the Alameda Naval Air Station in California before returning to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where Thelma grew up and attended Peake High School.

She confessed her Faith in Christ at Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Arkadelphia, Arkansas at a very young age.  In St. Louis, Missouri she was a member of Newstead Avenue Missionary Baptist church under the direction of Elder Richard L. Pearson, Sr. until her health declined, at which point she would attend San Francisco Temple in Florissant, Missouri with her neighbors.  Thelma had a love and joy of cooking and was frequently reassured by family and friends that she cooked with soul and love.  She was well-known for her homemade peach cobbler, pastries, and pies.  She was an excellent canner of fruit preserves, which she generously shared with her neighbors, doctors, family, friends, and the West Pine Pharmacy staff members in St. Louis, Missouri.  She continued to cook and can fruit preserves blissfully until the end of her earthly life.

Thelma was a wife, homemaker, and mother who was very proud of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all their accomplishments. In Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to the union of Thelma and Fred Harris, Lisa Lenore Harris was born.  Thelma married David Macon and to this union, Elaine Denise Macon was born.  In Little Rock, Arkansas Thelma married Willie Holden and helped take care of his children Lisa and Angela Holden in Atlanta, Georgia. She subsequently relocated to St. Louis, Missouri and married Stephen Hereford, and shared many happy years with family and friends.    

She caught the travel bug later in life and was overjoyed when her two daughters took her on a cruise ship to Montego Bay, Jamaica, Belize, and the Grand Cayman Islands.  She was taken aback by the sheer number of people and the vastness of the ocean. She liked traveling in her daughter's SUV and taking lengthy drives across St. Louis, Missouri, and Southern Illinois, discussing what they were going to cook next and sampling various foods at local restaurants.

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents, the late Readie Perry and Viola Anderson Perry Jones, her husband Stephen Hereford, and one son, Anthony Keith Macon. 

She leaves to cherish her memories, her brother Willie James Jones of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, her two daughters, Lisa Lenore Barnes of Bryant, Arkansas, Elaine Denise Macon of Sappington, Missouri, her grandchildren Michael (Dr. Shalonda Macon) Barnes of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Tiffani Elaine Barnes of Bryant, Arkansas, Michael Rhone, Jr. (Crystal) of Hot Springs, Arkansas, great-grandchildren Korbin Bailey, Gabriel, Issiah, Nakia and Ayshia Rhone, a great-great-grandson, special cousins Larry and Doris Williams of Springfield, Virginia, and a host of other family and friends who will forever carry on her memory. 

Funeral services are under the direction of Mitchell Funeral Home of Arkadelphia, AR. Visitation will be Friday, June 2, 2023, at the funeral home from 12 noon-6:00 P.M. w/ family hour from 5:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. The funeral will be Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 11:00 A.M., at Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Arkadelphia where Dr. Lewis A. Shepherd, Jr. is pastor and eulogist. Interment will be in Piney Grove Cemetery in Arkadelphia. The online guestbook is available to sign at www.mitchellfuneralservices.com

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