AHOSKIE, NC – Thelma Earley Dilday, age 90, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 30, 2017 at her home.

Miss Dilday was born in Hertford County on August 17, 1926, a daughter of the late Lloyd C. and Eva Earley Dilday. Miss Thelma was raised in the Hickory Chapel area of Ahoskie. She was a graduate of East Carolina Teachers College, and taught Home Economics for 35 years at B. F. Grady and later East Duplin High School in Duplin County. She was a lifelong member of Hickory Chapel OFWB Church. On her 90th birthday in August 2016, she was excited to get numerous birthday cards and calls from friends and neighbors.

Besides her parents, Thelma was preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law, L. Marion Dilday and Jane, and her best friend and sister, Mary Lou Dilday.

Left to cherish her memory are her five nieces, Susan Smith and husband, Harold, Ellen Allen and husband, Walt, and Marian Keech, all of Belhaven, NC, Lynn Ross and husband, Buddy of Bath, NC, and Donna Shealy and husband, Jerry of Charleston, SC; and two special cousins, Tommy Dilday and wife, Linda, and Rose Nell Perry and husband, Johnny, both of Ahoskie, NC.

A graveside celebration of life service was held on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at the Ahoskie Cemetery, Ahoskie, NC, with Rev. Jim Skipper, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made directly to the Free Will Baptist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 249, Middlesex NC, 27557, or you may donate online by visiting www.tmcfunding.com/search, then type Thelma Dilday.

The family wishes to offer heartfelt thanks to all Miss Thelma’s caregivers, including Cora Smith, Mary Ayers, Minnie Shearin, and Barbara Jatko, and all the caring nurses at Vidant Home Health and Hospice.

Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service – Ahoskie Chapel handled the arrangements for the Dilday family and online condolences can be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com.