Thelma Yoder

Thelma (Yoder) Yoder 98, Dublin GA, went home to be with the Lord on August 5, 2022 with her children around her bed singing, praying and crying, and thanking God for such a godly mother. She was born April 5, 1924 in Somerset PA, to Simon L and Lydia Yoder. Mom was born into an Amish home but they soon joined the Beachy movement that had begun the year Mom was born. They moved to Norfolk VA in 1936. On December 20, 1942 she was united in marriage to Jerry Yoder, with whom she shared the joys and sorrows of life for 62 years. Dad passed away in December 2004. To this union was born six sons and three daughters. Joyce Barnhart of Hephzibah Ga, David (Cora) Dublin Ga, Jerry Jr. (Ruby) Amelia Va, Ed (June) Bolivia, Esther Mast (Kelvin) Pedernalas MX, Galen (Rachel) Dublin, Sim (Sara) Dublin, Steve (Diane) Waynesboro Ga, and Debbie Mast (Nathan) Pedernalas MX. There are seventy four grandchildren, three hundred great grandchildren, and forty great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, brothers Elmer, Galen and Denver, and sisters Anna Hershberger, Pauline, Bertha and Dorthy. (All Yoders) She was also preceded in death by one still born daughter, one still born granddaughter, four grandsons, two great granddaughters and two great great grandsons. Of her siblings she is survived only by her brother Gerald from Costa Rica, and Marilyn Yoder from Missouri. Mom will always be known for her kindness to all, and for finding opportunities to reach out to needy souls along the way. Our home was often blessed with some child that needed the hands of loving parents. We were accustomed of having special occasions like Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner with families who had different last names and different backgrounds than ours. Mom is known for her love for her children and was always concerned that she treat all the children the same. If she had a favorite none of us nine siblings knew which one it was. We never doubted her love for the Lord Jesus and she always walked in His way to the best of her ability. She was an example of respect and submission to her husband, and in a large way was the glue that held our family together. She will be remembered for putting the needs of others ahead of her own, and always wanting to help with the duties around the house. A number of the siblings remember times when they were young and they would go looking for mama, and it was not unusual to find her by her bed praying. She will be remembered as a praying mother. Our hearts began to tug slightly when we saw the aging process begin, when she no longer could live by herself, then required to start walking with a cane, then eventually moved on to a walker and finally a wheelchair. She was always very determined to do everything for herself she could. In the last two years her knees were the cause of much pain, but she would not give up walking. In this aging process her short term memory became worse and worse. Our hearts began to cry when about two weeks before her passing she suddenly took a sharp turn downward physically and the need arose for hospice to help us get her comfortably to her journeys end. Mom expressed gratitude over and over for her children caring for her all the way to the end. A special thanks to our sister Esther and her husband Kelvin for the year and a half they left their children and home in Mexico to care for our Mother here. Also thanks to the granddaughters who helped tremendously with her care the last while. All the siblings from afar gathered in time for her to recognize them, and soon she became unresponsive. When her respirations would slow to dangerous levels, we would all gather around her and sing pray cry, and tell her how much we loved her, and over and over she would rally and her vitals return to the new normal. Eventually her time came to depart and as we were around her bed and she was taking those very shallow breaths, we sang one of her old favorites "Shall We Gather at The River", and only moments later her breathing stopped, and she crossed over. We miss her greatly already, but so thankful for the legacy she left us and the prospect of meeting again on the other side. A visitation will be held on Tuesday August 9 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm at The Emmanuel Christian Fellowship, 1600 Tucker Grove Church Rd, Wrightsville Ga. The funeral will be on Wednesday August 10, 2022 at 10 AM at the Buckeye Baptist Church, 2176 New Buckeye Rd, Wrightsville GA. Burial will be in the Emmanuel Church Cemetery. Joe Hershberger will bring the message. Stanley Funeral Home and Crematory/Dublin Chapel has charge of funeral arrangements.