Thelma Lavern Childs
August 10, 1931 - April 19, 2017

Mrs. Thelma Lavern Childs, 85, of Pineville, MS passed away April 19, 2017 at Mississippi Care Center in Raleigh, MS.

Funeral services will be at Leaf River Baptist Church in Pineville , MS on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 10:00 am. Dr. Danny Dickerson, Rev. Cliff Lazenby, Rev. Raybon Richardson, and Rev. Edwin Richardson will officiate the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Pallbearers are Joey Childs, Jeffrey Lazenby, Tom Walker, Troy Davis, Kenneth Davis, Raymond Swartz, Anthony Sorey, and Cory Nelson. Honorary pallbearers are Patricia Wilkerson, Faye Johnson, Olivia Bailey, Bobbie Martin, Charlotte Bynum, and Mable Daniel. Visitation will be Friday, April 21, 2017 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Bay Springs, MS and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Lavern was born August 10, 1931 in Rienzi, MS to William Franklin Richardson and Nora Nancy Burcham Richardson. At a young age, she met and married the love of her life, Joseph Timothy "Buster" Childs, Sr. After a short time in north MS, Raleigh, MS, and Picayune, MS, they settled on a farm in Pineville, MS. They were married almost 62 years. She worked for a number of years at the Raleigh Corporation, but most of her work was done on the farm. She was good at gardening and cooking what she grew for her family. There was nothing like her home grown vegetables, cornbread or cathead biscuits, and a piece of her coconut cake for dessert.

Lavern loved the Lord and her family. She also loved her church family, neighbors, and her new nursing home family, especially her roommate, Mauvolene Lovett. One of the special joys of her life was the children of Leaf River Baptist Church where she was an active member.

Lavern is survived by her children J.T. and Glenda Childs of Pineville, MS and Clifford and Joanne Lazenby of Hattiesburg, MS; grandchildren Joey and Heather Childs of Sumrall, MS, Tom and Jeanne Walker of Hattiesburg, MS, Kaci Lazenby of Hattiesburg, MS, and Jeffrey and Kasey Lazenby of Petal, MS; and great grandchildren Carmin, Caragan, and Claire Childs, Katie Walker, and Jeremiah Lazenby.

She is also survived by her 14 brothers and sisters, and a sister-in-law: Dillard and Dorothy Richardson of Tupelo, MS, Reba and Cayce Depoyster of Booneville, MS, Dean Henry of Glen, MS, Retha Bain of Burnsville, MS, Raybon and Maudie Richardson of Biggersville, MS, Edwin and Faye Richardson of Lake Cormorant, MS, Barbra and Jimmy McCalla of Palm Bay, FL, Delilah Richardson of Rienzi, MS, Nancy and Charles King of Rienzi, MS, Larry and Sandra Richardson of Michie, TN, Jeanette and J.B. Aday of Southhaven, MS, Elaine Bailey, Mary Floyd, and Margaret and Tommy Vanstory of Booneville, MS, and Jimmy and Glenda Harwood of Rienzi, MS. She is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews that she loved dearly. She had the privilege of naming one special niece, Matison King.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Buster Childs, two brothers, Jerry Dwayne Richardson and Billy Joe Richardson, and her step-mother, Elizabeth Richardson.

The family wishes to offer special thanks to the staff at the Mississippi Care Center of Raleigh.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude's, the Women's Mission of Leaf River Baptist Church, or the Preschool and Children's Department of Leaf River Baptist Church.