Obituaries

Thelma Virginia Brooks Carter Gholston departed from this earth spanning 99 years on April 25, 2017.

Born January 28, 1918 in Widen (Clay County), WV she was the oldest daughter of the late Javier and Hattie Mae Brooks. She was preceded in death by one brother, Alfred Brooks; three sisters, Geraldine Harris, Mary Simpson and Sylvia Harris; and one son, Oliver Gholston, Jr.

Mrs. Gholston was married to the late Phillip Wade Carter and the late Oliver L. Gholston. She is survived by children, Phillip W. Carter and wife Beverly of Pittsburgh, PA, Lee Carter of Clarksburg, Theresa Carter of Clarksburg, Lawrence (Larry) Gholston of Lafayette, LA, and Sylvia Gholston Mosley and husband Mark of Cary, NC.  She was the last aunt to Louis and wife Sharlene Harris of Phoenix, AZ; grandmother of seven grandchildren, one great grandchild, and a host of great nieces and nephews.

She was a born again Christian and member of the Apostolic Church until God sent her to Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church to witness for Him. As a member for over 50 years, she served as teacher and superintendent of Sunday School, church clerk, president of the Deaconess Board, president of the Willing Workers Choir and the usher board.  In 2014 she was inducted into the 50+ Club to honor over a half of a century of faithfulness to Mt. Zion.

The majority of her time was spent as a homemaker with some experience in the hotel/restaurant industry. She was one of the first employees to open the Holiday Inn and Sheraton Hotel.  She also worked at the West Virginia Restaurant.

An avid reader passionate about the value of education, Mrs. Gholston was the first teacher for Kiddie Corner, a local and state subsidized program located in the Kelly Miller School that predated Head Start and served the local community. Community service included membership in the YWCA, United Mine Workers of America, NAACP and involvement in number of grass roots initiatives.  She was the 2008 recipient of the WV All Black Schools Academic Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement Award.  During the same year, she also received a posthumous Lifetime Award Coal Miners from the WV All Black Schools and Academic Hall of Fame on behalf of her husbands.  Mrs. Gholston served as the queen of the 2011 Black Heritage Festival.

Family and friends may call at the Amos Carvelli Funeral Home, 201 Edison Street, Nutter Fort on Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. Mrs. Gholston will be taken to the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church where the funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 11:00 am with Reverend Rahsaan Armand  officiating.  Interment will be in the Bridgeport Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family at www.amoscarvelli.com.  A service of Amos Carvelli Funeral Home.