Thelma L. Pratt

PRATT, Thelma L.
Of Kalamazoo Passed away Tuesday, April 24, 2007. Thelma was born on a dairy farm in Decatur, Michigan. Her father, James Lenox, had moved to the farm from a homestead in Kansas to marry a local girl, Effie Goens. Later, James ran a milk hauling business that transported milk from local farms to the processing plant. Thelma assisted in maintaining the trucks during WW II. After graduating from Decatur High School in 1932 Thelma lived and worked in New York City for a year. She returned to work in Kalamazoo then graduated from cosmetology school in Chicago, Illinois in 1940. She married Charles Pratt, a young attorney, in 1941. Thelma loved to sew, knit, and do needlepoint, winning numerous first place and best of show awards at the Kalamazoo County Fair and the Michigan State Fair. Later in life, she donated hundreds of hand-knit hats to newborns at Borgess Hospital and hundreds of mittens to local elementary school students. During World War II, while her husband, Judge Charles Pratt, was deployed as an infantry officer in Italy, Thelma began her community service career by volunteering with the Red Cross. Her volunteer service to the Red Cross extended more than 50 years. During the 1970?s and 1980?s Thelma regularly served as a volunteer supervisor at Blood Mobile sites. Thelma was a member of the Borgess Service League from 1953 until the 1990?s working as a volunteer in the Borgess Hospital Gift Shop and the surgery waiting room. She also did volunteer work for the County Extension Service, the Kalamazoo County Fair, the PTA, the Girls Scouts, and the Lawyers Wives now known as the Lawyers Auxiliary. Gardening, canning and freezing were some of her specialties, producing enough jams, jellies, and vegetables for a family of five at her ?H? Avenue home. Thelma loved to sew, knit, and do needlepoint. She was also an avid fisherwoman, always ready for an outing to Spiller's Boat Livery on Campbell Lake. Thelma was an avid reader and loved finding a good book to read and share. Thelma attended the Covenant Church in Comstock with her husband, Charles. Thelma may have been the first African-American elected to political office in Kalamazoo County. She was first appointed to the Comstock Library Board in 1962 to fill a vacancy. Thereafter she was elected in several consecutive six-year terms to that board. She served as Vice President, Secretary, and President between 1962 and 1983, and rarely missed a monthly meeting. Thelma was preceded in death by her husband, Charles on March 22, 1989; also by her parents; a sister, Luella Goens and a brother, James Lenox. Surviving are three children, Charles A Pratt of Battle Creek, James E. Pratt and his wife, Mildred of Groten, NY, Helen Pratt Mickens and her husband, Charles of Lansing; a special niece whom Thelma raised as her own daughter, Sonya Pratt Terburg of Comstock; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Thelma?s family wishes to thank the administrators, staff, and wonderful friends at Wyndham Senior Apartments where she lived from 1991 until 2006. They also wish to thank the Upjohn Care Center staff and the very special people at Wyndham West Assisted Living Center. Finally, thanks are extended to Borgess Visiting Nurse Hospice for making Thelma comfortable during her last week. Thelma?s family and friends were lucky enough to be able to enjoy her wonderful, calm and practical personality, her unconditional loyalty, and her dry sense of humor. She will be missed very much. Graveside Services will be held 2:30 PM Friday May 4 at Ft. Custer National Cemetery those attending please meet in the cemetery entrance assembly area at 2:15 PM. An informal reception for family and friends will be held 9:00 AM ? 12:00 PM on Saturday, May 5 at the Wyndham Apartments 2300 Portage Road, Kalamazoo, 49001. Please honor Mrs. Pratt?s wishes as she requested no flowers. For those wishing to make a contribution in her memory please consider the American Red Cross, 5640 Venture Ct., Kalamazoo, MI 49009 or the Pratt Scholarship of the Comstock Schools Foundation, 3010 Gull Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49048. Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St. www.langelands.com 269-343-1508