Thelma L. McBride's Obituary
Early YearsThelma was welcomed into the world as the third child of George and Mary Elizabeth (Bane) Borum on March 1, 1918 in Davidson County, Tennessee. It wasn’t long before two more siblings, another brother and sister, joined the family. The seven Borums made their home in Nashville, Tennessee. Young LoveThelma met her husband Romey through her brother’s friends. She was the social butterfly, who loved to dance and wear stylish hats, and Romey was the muscular athlete. Thelma thought that Romey was one of the best looking men she had ever seen but she would often say that he had kind of a wimpy voice. On their first date he took her to a Vanderbilt game.Dennis Jerome “Romey” McBride was 27 years old when the 22 year old Thelma gently nudged him toward matrimony after a five year courtship. The attractive couple tied the knot and settled down in Nashville in 1940. The pair enjoyed 52 years together when Romey passed away in 1993.Romey’s brother, Bill, helped the young couple acquire their first house with further aid of Thelma’s sister’s husband who built it. The home was quite tiny; in fact Thelma called it the ‘shotgun house’ because a bullet could be fired in one door and exit straight out the other. It was in this beloved house that Thelma and Romey brought three children into their lives; Jacque born in 1945, Dennis in 1950 and Tommy in 1952. Hard Working HomemakerThelma was a responsible homemaker, wife and mother. She was an independent woman who nurtured a sense of pride in her home and her family. Her son,Dennis, remembers how hard she worked to make their house a home. Memories abound – blessings said at the dinner table, the smell of floor wax mingling with aromas of Jell-O and fresh baked oatmeal cookies – all powerful childhood recollections of what Mom did. When Romey was at work, Thelma would gather her children and take the bus from east Nashville to downtown. They would spend the day shopping and paying bills. The children were always well behaved because they knew if they were, she would take them to see a movie or to Candyland for shakes or malts. Sometimes Woolworths would be the treat where each child would get a pinwheel. SpiritualitySpirituality played an important part in Thelma’s life. She was intrigued by the Assumption Catholic Church which she would frequently walk by. Having always been drawn to the church buildings, she especially loved St. Mary’s Church downtown; it was not surprising that she converted to Catholicism when she married Romey. Her husband and his family’s strong faith were so admired by her that she would often say to her children “I hope y’all have the faith of the McBride’s” as their “faith was phenomenal”. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church where she was a charter member held a special place in her heart. Soul SistersThelma and Dede Gitlin met while playing one of the many card games Thelma enjoyed. Her favorite games where Bridge, Canasta and Rook. After their first game, they knew their friendship would be special; in fact, Dede refers fondly to them being “sisters in the heart”. During many hours of companionship, Dede use to spar with “Miss Thelma” – all in good fun. Dede was sometimes convinced that Thelma cheated. Thelma would sometimes have too many cards in her hand and when caught, would say “oops!” and pretend all was well. In later years, both women delighted in playing Skip-Bo. Thelma passed on her passion of playing cards to her children, teaching them games like Old Maid, Crazy Eights, Canasta and Rook. Pride and HumilityThelma’s proudest moments always involved her children. Jacque was the first in the family to graduate when she completed Army college and then joined the Women’s Army Corps. Even though this was frowned upon, Thelma did not want to hold Jacque back; she always wanted her children to live their own lives.Both Thelma and Romey taught their children to have respect for everyone. They would help those less fortunate, even loaning money to feed neighbors’children. It was important for them to instill the fact that service to others is its own reward – the children were not to expect pay for doing chores for neighbors. Thelma also cared unconditionally for women who had given birth to a child out of wedlock, contrary to popular thinking of the time. She was truly nonjudgmental and generous – following her Christian beliefs in a practical way.When Thelma and Romey were about to be married, he couldn’t afford to spend much on a ring. Keeping that in mind, she picked the smallest ring. Once she had money to purchase a bigger ring, she chose instead to help her son Dennis buy one for her future daughter-in-law. Understanding this sacrifice, when Jacque inherited rings from her aunt, she insisted that Thelma wear and enjoy them. Mother taught her daughter well.Chicken has a special significance to Thelma’s children. When a whole chicken was cut up and served in their home, Thelma would say she preferred the backpiece, that had very little meat. Little did the children understand until they were much older, she was doing this to ensure her family would have more to eat. Beloved GrandmotherWhether she was serving eggs and bacon for breakfast, cherry tomatoes from the garden, or banana flavored popsicles – summer at Grandma’s home was a joyful place to be. Thelma would sit on the porch encouraging the grandchildren to catch fireflies, play leap frog on her pebble stone steps or watch a rousing game of “red light green light”. She often shared the story of her granddaughter Jennifer singing “Down in the Valley” over and over and over; when she was little, of course.Tommy’s son, Michael, has tender memories of his childhood. When he was sick, Thelma would babysit him, introducing him to some of her favorite television shows like The Price is Right, The Young and the Restless and The Golden Girls. Between shows, the pair would enjoy Totino’s Pizza and Breyers ice cream. He chuckles remembering how they would talk about what to have at the next meal while still eating the current one. Gracious StyleThelma had inherently expensive tastes. She dressed her children in quality clothes, believing in quality rather than quantity. She looked particularly gorgeous in the orange suit and fur stole that she wore to Jacque’s graduation; her presence dominated the room. Thelma was very sociable, the type of person who you could tell anything to. She was not judgmental and in her very own gracious style, she could ‘work the room’ making introductions and ensuring that each individual felt welcome and appreciated. LegacyThelma L. McBride, age 94, passed away on June 6, 2012. She was predeceased by her parents, siblings and husband. She is survived by her three children,Jacque, Dennis III (Laura) and Tommy (Patricia) McBride; six grandchildren, Dennis IV (Kay), Jennifer (Bryan) Sullivan, Michael Ryan (Kowanda), Julian Scott (KC), Michael (Ashley) and Patrick McBride and seven great grandchildren. Her children feel extremely blessed for the years they had to spend with such a wonderful mother. They are even more thankful their children had time to get to know their grandmother. Her smiling face, witty comments, generous hugs, loving patience and understanding had a way of endearing her to everyone, especially to the special children in her life.
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