Thelma Crutchfield Kells

Thelma Crutchfield Kells, 104 Thelma Crutchfield Kells, a lifetime resident of Lakeland passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, October 8, at the age of 104 of natural causes. She was born on January 30, 1910 to Thomas Hervey and Mary Kathryn Crutchfield. Thelma graduated from Lakeland High School and attended Florida Southern College. She married Charles Borland Kells, an attorney, first in 1929 (secretly) and then again in 1930. They were married 50 years when he passed away. Their early years of marriage were tough and they both worked to make ends meet. After World War II, their hard work began to pay off. In the 1940s they opened two liquor stores, one in Plant City and the other in Wauchula. The liquor stores did quite well and in 1953 they opened The Lakeland (a club) in Hillsborough County - 100 yards from the then dry Polk County line. Thelma and Charles had also invested heavily in property in South Lakeland. Over the years, Thelma donated numerous parcels of her land for various City of Lakeland, Polk County and Florida Department of Transportation projects. Thelma loved to travel and she and Charles traveled extensively around the world. After his death, she took up ballroom dancing at the age of 75 and continued into her 90s traveling the globe and competing and winning many competitions. Thelma was the oldest winner of the United States Ballroom Scholarship Championship, an award she took home two years in a row when she was 87 and again at 88. Thelma's love of music began at an early age. She learned to play the piano by ear at the age of nine and by the age of ten she was playing piano for silent movies at the Palace Theatre. As a young girl, Thelma also played the piano at Bethel Baptist Church where she attended with her family. In high school she formed a band with her friends and they played at local venues including dinner at the Terrace Hotel when it first opened. Thelma met her husband Charles when he saw her and her band win first place in a competition at the Palace Theatre. Thelma was as life member of the Tuesday Music Club which she joined in 1933. Over the years she served as club treasurer, corresponding secretary and club president from 1950 - 1952. The main hall at the club is named after her. Thelma was the official accompanist for the Jeanie auditions for talented young vocalists competing for music scholarships held annually at the Stephen Foster State Folk Culture Center in White Springs, FL. She was a charter member in the Florida Fellows. Thelma was instrumental in bringing Strings classes to the schools in Polk County. Thelma was a 35 year member for PEO Chapter AW, which is a philanthropic and educational organization of women supporting women in their educational endeavors. Thelma was a member of Saint David's Episcopal Church where she served as a Lay Eucharistic Minister. In addition to her volunteer work for the church, she volunteered for several organizations even serving as a volunteer driver for VISTE well into her eighties. Thelma was not only generous with her time but also with her resources. She gave to countless organizations throughout her life, most often giving behind the scenes. Thelma was one of the Polk Theatre""s Lifetime Members. In 2002, the organ at the theatre was dedicated in her name and has since been recognized as the Mr. & Mrs. Charles B. Kells organ. Thelma was predeceased by her parents, her husband, brothers William Russell, Thomas Harry and Ralph Loy Crutchfield and niece Becky Long. She is survived by her brother F. B. "Pete" Crutchfield, Smith's, AL, sister-in-law Dorothy Crutchfield, Colorado Springs, CO, nephew R. Larry (Lynn) Crutchfield, nieces Penny Greer, Laura Landwirth, Candy (Jack) Langford, Bobbie (Tommy) O'Neal, Regina Quarles, Kathy Rotanelli, Lisa (Cleve) Thompson, Harryette (Guerry) Wardell, 21 great nieces/nephews and 27 great great nieces/nephews. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Thelma's many caregivers for their kindness and devotion to her. Their love and compassion made such a difference in her life. In addition to having a wonderful sense of humor and being a talented musician and dancer, Thelma was most generous with her time and treasure. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a charity of your choice in hopes that Thelma's generous spirit will encourage everyone that knew her to give back and to leave this world better than they found it, just as Thelma did. Visitation will be from 5 " 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17 at Heath Funeral Chapel. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. at Heath Funeral Chapel. Interment will be at Micanopy Historic Cemetery in Micanopy, Florida. Service: 10/18/2014 Heath Funeral Chapel 328 South Ingraham Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33801 Heath Funeral Chapel Visitation: 10/17/2014 Heath Funeral Chapel