Mrs. Thelma Juliette Hilliard's Obituary
The Celebration of Life Service for Thelma Hilliard.
A Life Well Lived!
THELMA JULIETTE OWENS (HILLIARD) was born on April 7,1933, in Leavenworth, Kansas
to parents Thelma Lee Mabion and Cottrell Owens. She lived a vibrant life up to the ripe age
of 90 years old.
For almost six years she was the only child, then she had two brothers, Otha Robinson and
Frank Robinson. As a child, she remembers that morals and honesty were enforced in the
home, which she passed on into her adulthood. She was baptized at the age of fourteen and
was a member of Sunflower Missionary Baptist Church in Leavenworth, KS.
Thelma graduated from Leavenworth Senior High School in May, 1951. She married at the
age of 21, and was the mother of six (6) children, two sons and four daughters. She moved to
California in 1981, and lived in San Diego, CA where she later graduated from Pacific Coast
Business College. She did clerical and retail work for most of her adult life and lived in San
Diego, CA for the next 40 years.
She became a member of Encanto Southern Baptist Church in 1983, where she thrived. She
was a church librarian, Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Director, Women’s Mission,
Woman Refined Prison Ministry, Summer Lunch Program Supervisor, Celebrate Recovery with
the Chrysalis Ministry and the Grief & Loss Ministry.
Thelma remembers her proudest family moments as the birth of each child and every time a
grandchild would graduate.
After retirement, she enjoyed fishing, gardening, doing puzzles and was learning Spanish well
into her 80’s.
Thelma entered into eternal rest on December 8, 2023.
She is survived by her son, Louis Brown, Jr. and her four daughters, Rochelle Douglas, Zezell
Brown, Gwenn Smith-Robson, Leticia Norfleet, son-in-law, Otis Robson and god-daughter
Katherine Walls, 13 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren and many cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her son, David Brown, her husband, Richard Hilliard and her
brothers, Otha Robinson and Franklin Robinson.
Thelma will be deeply missed by a host of relatives, friends, and all who had the privilege of
knowing her and she will forever remain in their hearts.
For family and friends who wish to join, her homegoing service information is below:
Tuesday, December 19, 2023 @ 10:30am
Encanto Southern Baptist Church,
6020 Akins Ave, San Diego, CA 92114
San Diego, CA
Gathering following the service and burial will be at Encanto Southern Baptist Church.
Burial will be at Singing Hills Memorial Park, El Cajon, CA immediately following the service.
What’s your fondest memory of Thelma?
What’s a lesson you learned from Thelma?
Share a story where Thelma's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Thelma you’ll never forget.
How did Thelma make you smile?
