Thelma Diane Kidwell

On Friday, November 29, 2019 Thelma D. Kidwell, surrounded by her loving family, passed away peacefully at the age of 73 after fighting a courageous battle with Multiple Myeloma for Eight years.

Thelma was one of 8 children born November 9, 1946 in Washington, DC to Charles and Vera Naylor. She grew up in DC until she moved in 1971 to Prince Georges County where she lived most of her adult life. Thelma was an excellent home maker and mother to her three children until she decided to enter the work force, where she started as a sales clerk and eventually went on to work as a records manager for a law firm and retired working as a contractor for the Federal Government.

Thelma was always an advocate for children and was a foster parent from 1979 to 1982. She volunteered in the cuddler's program at Prince Georges Hospital and she adopted her 3rd and last child in 1983. She gave her time to volunteer as well. Thelma was always willing to help out anyone as best that she could, always gave the best advice and was always kind to everyone.  Her joy for life was contagious and everyone loved her. In fact we heard "favorite aunt” and "favorite sister'' said multiple times but the names will remain anonymous to protect the innocent.

Thelma enjoyed dancing, bowling, camping, eating steamed crabs, watching the Washington Redskins football games and watching her old movies over and over again. Thelma used to hit the DC hot spots to show off her dancing skills. She also appeared on the local televised Milt Grant Show, which was similar to American Band Stand in her younger years. She also loved to travel, go on cruises and visit with her out of state siblings and she was always excited and lit up whenever she had a chance go to the Casinos! To her siblings, Thelma is lovingly remembered as Samma, Thelma Lou or Selly Punks. She enjoyed Rock and Roll and Motown music and tag along with her sister Trisha who was her "partner in crime." She was good at keeping family connected which was very important to her. What Thelma absolutely loved was spending time with her FAMILY and her siblings were her best friends.

Thelma was predeceased by her parents, Vera and Charles Naylor, brothers Freddy Owens, Dennis Naylor, Sister, Jeanette Godwin and grandson Jacob Myers. Thelma is survived by her three  loving children, Tammy VanPelt, Daniel and Amy Smith; and her three sisters, Carolyn Allen, Trisha Ruiz and Darlene Bowling and brother, Charles Naylor Jr.; loving grandchildren ,Matthew Myers, Zachary, Zoey and Zane Smith, Derrick and Danielle Noble and her two great grandsons Matthew Jr. and Maxwell Myers.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, PO Box 98018, Washington DC 20090-8018