✦ ✦ ✦
Thelma J. Gonder Ridgell, age 85 of Little Rock, AR, formerly of Monticello, went to be with her Lord and Savior Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock, AR. She was born September 6, 1937, in Drew County, AR to the late Elbert Gonder and Odessa Block Hill (Ollie Gonder-Harrell).
She was the widow of Leon Ridgell, Sr., was retired and a member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Thelma was a very quiet, loving and caring person that deeply cared for people. She would exhaust all resources to make sure “you” were okay. Because of this loving and caring nature, she enjoyed working at Leisure Lodge Nursing Home (currently The Woods) talking to people (on the phone and in person); traveling and the enjoying the holidays. In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by her sons, Leon Ridgell, Jr. “BB” – Private in the U.S. Army and Elbert G. Ridgell “Chicken” – Sergeant in the U.S. Army; her brothers-in-law, Donald Ridgell, Travis Ridgell and Earl Ridgell; along with other brothers and sisters-in-law; and a grandparent, Nancy Gonder.
She is survived by her grandsons, Pierre Malik (Rebecca) and Cory Ridgell; her sister, Clara Gonder-Thompson (Kenneth); her sister-in-law, Maxine Ridgell; her brothers-in-law, Dwight Ridgell, Billy R. Ridgell and Bommie Ridgell; along with many other nieces, nephews and relatives; and a very caring Godson and friend, Virgil Randolph.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 24, 2023, at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Chapel with Rev. Jessie Washington and Pastor Thelma Hampton Harden officiating. Burial will be in Campground Cemetery. There will be a visitation one hour preceding the funeral service from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. You can sign Mrs. Thelma’s guestbook page at www.stephensondearman.com.
She was the widow of Leon Ridgell, Sr., was retired and a member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Thelma was a very quiet, loving and caring person that deeply cared for people. She would exhaust all resources to make sure “you” were okay. Because of this loving and caring nature, she enjoyed working at Leisure Lodge Nursing Home (currently The Woods) talking to people (on the phone and in person); traveling and the enjoying the holidays. In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by her sons, Leon Ridgell, Jr. “BB” – Private in the U.S. Army and Elbert G. Ridgell “Chicken” – Sergeant in the U.S. Army; her brothers-in-law, Donald Ridgell, Travis Ridgell and Earl Ridgell; along with other brothers and sisters-in-law; and a grandparent, Nancy Gonder.
She is survived by her grandsons, Pierre Malik (Rebecca) and Cory Ridgell; her sister, Clara Gonder-Thompson (Kenneth); her sister-in-law, Maxine Ridgell; her brothers-in-law, Dwight Ridgell, Billy R. Ridgell and Bommie Ridgell; along with many other nieces, nephews and relatives; and a very caring Godson and friend, Virgil Randolph.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 24, 2023, at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Chapel with Rev. Jessie Washington and Pastor Thelma Hampton Harden officiating. Burial will be in Campground Cemetery. There will be a visitation one hour preceding the funeral service from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. You can sign Mrs. Thelma’s guestbook page at www.stephensondearman.com.