THELMA BOYD TOLER

Thelma (Ann) Boyd Toler, daughter of the late Josephine Boyd Fields and Al Junius Fields was bornNovember 3, 1937, in Tarboro, North Carolina. She departed this life October 2, 2024, at Casey Housein Rockville, Maryland.Thelma graduated from the former East Suffolk High School, Class of 1955. She was class secretaryas a freshman and sang in the school choir for four years. Basketball was her favorite extracurricularactivity, and she insisted her granddaughter follow in her footsteps in the sport.Thelma enjoyed a 45-year career in the Federal Government as a Small Business Specialist for theOffice of Administration, Executive Office of the President. In that capacity she had personal contactwith multiple First Ladies and enjoyed her role in ensuring their procurement needs were met. Herprofessional success was not limited to her day-to-day responsibilities, rather it was her ability tohelp others that was the crowning achievement of her life. It was her tenacity and determination toprovide opportunities for others that will be her legacy. At every opportunity she mentored,supported, encouraged, and advocated for everyone needing a job to apply for positions in the FederalGovernment. As their mentor she diligently told them when it was time to apply for a promotion, goback to school for an advanced degree or pivot to another department or industry when there was noopportunity for advancement. Many of them attended her retirement ceremony in 2004 to expresstheir appreciation for her guidance.As a child she accepted Jesus Christ, in her life. She attended Tyne Street and First Baptist MahanStreet churches in Suffolk, Virginia. After relocating to Washington, DC, she joined The FloridaAvenue Baptist Church and later joined The People's Community Baptist Church. There she was amember of the Issachar Tribal Family and her beloved Generation 1. She remained active until herrecent illness. In addition, she was a Life Member, National Council of Negro Women, Inc., PotomicValley Section; Past Matron, Zorah Chapter No. 36, Order of the Eastern Star, PHA, Rockville,Maryland and Honorary Past Imperial Commandress and Past Imperial Deputy for the Desert ofMaryland and, Anwar Court No. 197, Imperial Court of the Daughter of Isis, PHA, Rockville, Maryland.Thelma loved her family. To her, everyone was family. She was the happiest with a house full of peopleany day of the week, invited or unexpected. She welcomed international students, interns, collegestudents and countless nieces, nephews, and cousins into her home.Thelma was most proud of her three sons: Joel L. Boyd, M.D., Herbert H. Toler, Jr., Ph.D., and Al DavidToler, DDS. She poured her heart and soul into raising them and provided them with an extraordinaryeducational and spiritual foundation to ensure their professional and personal success.Thelma was preceded in death by her stepbrothers Al Jr. and Walter and stepsister Catherine andsurvived by one stepsister Elnora Stagg. She leaves to cherish her memory and continue her legacy ofselfless giving her sons Joel (Cheryl), Herbert Jr. (Erica), Al (Nathalie), grandchildren Kendall (Brian),Kyle (Archana), Kasey, Heather, Halle, Herbert III, Lawrence, Jacob; great-grandchildren Gabrielle,Garrett, Logan, Jermaine and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of other relatives andfriends.