MAYFIELD, Thelma N. (Briggs)

Thelma N. Mayfield Thelma Naomi Mayfield, 97, of Johnson City, began her Life with the Lord, March 11, 2008, at the Christian Care Center of Johnson City. Mrs. Mayfield was a native of Weir City, Kansas, and had lived in Johnson City for the past 20 years. She was a daughter of the late Stephen Robert and Mabel Rose Underwood Briggs. Mrs. Mayfield was preceded in death by her husband, Guy W. Mayfield; a sister, Edith Irene Lane; and her son-in-law, Donald L. Holben. After high school, and receiving an honors scholarship, she attended Oklahoma College for Women and later graduated from Oklahoma A&M College. She was married to Guy W. Mayfield in 1935 and served with him in several churches in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana before WWII. Following her husband's return from WWII, where he served as a military chaplain, they returned as missionaries to Italy and other European countries for 40 years. After the death of her husband in 1987 she settled in Johnson City and continued her mission work through publication of newsletters and devoted hours daily writing letters of encouragement and guidance to Christians in Europe. After blindness interfered with her written ministry she continued by dictating to others. Mrs. Mayfield was a member of Grandview Christian Church for the past 20 years and for the past eight years a faithful follower of the First Christian Church television series, "In the Word," as well as the Sunday morning service. She also attended Sunday services at Broadmore Assisted Living. Survivors include a daughter, Mignon Holben, Johnson City; a son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Pat Mayfield, Sumter, S.C.; a sister-in-law, Kay Mayfield, Elizabethton; grandchildren, David Holben, Johnson City, Michelle Moody, St. Louis, Mo., Doug Mayfield, Arnold Mayfield, Rachel Mayfield and Richard Mayfield, all of South Carolina; and several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. A Celebration of Life service for Mrs. Mayfield will be conducted at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 13, from the Morris-Baker Funeral Home South Chapel with Minister Gioele Settembrini, Minister Aaron Wymer and grandson David Holben officiating. Music will provided by Gioele Settembrini, tenor, and Joel Buckner, pianist. Vocal music during visitation will be provided by grandson-in-law, Jeff Moody. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 14, at Washington County Memory Gardens Mausoleum Chapel. Family and friends are asked to assemble at the cemetery. Active pallbearers will be David Holben, grandson, Aaron Wymer, minister, Worth Peak, deacon, Pastor Mike Garland, Chaplain Mac and Mickey Keplinger, friend. Honorary pallbearers will be Ron Pyron, Dr. Henry Webb, Dr. Bill Gwaltney, Minister Steve Hill, Minister Frank Smith and members of Grandview Christian Church calling group. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Guy and Thelma Mayfield Missionary Fund, c/o Milligan College, P.O. Box 750, Milligan College, TN 37682. Their daughter, Mignon, a Milligan alum, established this scholarship for the benefit of the children of missionaries because she was a recipient of a similar scholarship. Online condolences may be made through www.morrisbaker.com. Morris-Baker Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2001 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, (423) 282-1521, is serving the family.