Mrs. Thelma Louise Boone "BIT" was born September 12, 1933 to the late Carrie Ramsey and Kussell Edwards in Gumberry, North Carolina. She went home to be with the Lord on Friday, September 29th, 2023. As a youth, Thelma was educated in the Northampton County School System. At home, she was raised by her beloved mother, Carrie Ramsey, and Aunt Betty Ramsey (Duck). Here, Thelma also developed close relationships with her late cousins Mary Esther Ramsey-Neal (Sweet) and Wesley Lee Ramsey. As a young adult, Thelma moved to Philadelphia to help support her family. While back home in Northampton County, Thelma met Willie Daniel Boone of nearby Rich Square. "W.D." and Thelma were married in Emporia, Virginia on July 25th, 1960. Soon thereafter the two purchased a home in the South Ward of Newark, New Jersey, and began building a family. In this home, Willie and Thelma raised a beautiful faith-filled family of 5 girls - Rosalind Renee Glover (Roselle, NI), Michelle Boone (deceased), Mona Ashley and Pamela Boone (Maplewood, N), and Tonya Holmes (Mount Olive, NJ). While taking thoughtful and loving care of her family, Thelma also served as manager and financial bookkeeper of the moving business she established with Willie - East Coast Van Lines Incorporated. For many years, she was known by all employees to be diligent and organized. Under Thelma's watch and care, East Coast Van Lines' financial statements were pristinely accurate - down to the last penny. Thelma was a selfless woman of God with a kind and caring heart for all whom she encountered. While keeping the books for the family business, she also served as a teacher's aide in the Newark Public School System. Additionally, she spent time working at Bristol-Myers Squibb in nearby Hillside, New Jersey. Renowned for her culinary ability, "Sweet Bit" was known to be a very good cook. To this day, her sweet potato pie is the talk of legend by friends and family alike. Motivated by her boundless compassion for others, Thelma was a philanthropist at heart. She spent countless hours with the sick and elderly in their most pressing times of need, including her late husband, mother, daughter, many neighbors, and friends. During every visit, she held her Bible in hand, offered a home-cooked meal for comfort, and listened dearly to the needs of her loved ones with the ear of her compassionate heart. Thelma came to know Jesus as a young child at Roanoke Salem Baptist Church and served as a faithful usher at Bethany Baptist Church in Newark for many years. Most recently, she was a courageous choir member at Logos Love Christian Center in Hillside, NJ. Thelma was a faithful studier of the Word of God, by day and night, and an even better example of it. Thelma loved her family deeply. She continues to be an unwavering example of God's faithfulness and a demonstration of his unending love for them all. Today, she leaves to cherish her memory four daughters, Rosalind, Mona, Pam, and Tonya; twelve grandchildren, Gabriel, Sade, Jordan (JJ), Christian, Jared, Kai, Malachi, Bethel, Monica, Christina, Brandon, and Avery; five great-grandkids, Olivia, Caleb, Alani, Aaliyah, and Cairo; and a host of beloved Thelma is predeceased by her parents, Carrie Ramsey (age 96) and Russell Edwards, her husband Willie Daniel Boone (age 73), cousins Wesley Lee Ramsey (age 82) and Mary Esther Ramsey-Neal.
Thelma is predeceased by her parents, Carrie Ramsey (age 96) and Russell Edwards, her husband Willie Daniel Boone (age 73), cousins Wesley Lee Ramsey (age 82) and Mary Esther Ramsey-Neal (Sweet, age 59), daughter Michelle Boone (age 54), and great-grandson Amari Holmes (age 1 month )
