Fannie Thorpe

Mrs. Fannie Lee Thomas Thorpe was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the seventh of eight children (seven girls and one boy), to the late Mr. Walter Thomas and Mrs. Theodosia Kearse Thomas. Since she was born just ten days shy of her sister Carolyn Lucille's first birthday, and since their youngest sister Barbara made her entrance into the world less than three years later, their Mother often referred to them as her "three babies." They shared their early childhood days closely together.

Like all of her older siblings, Fannie attended the public schools of the Twin City, and completed the eighth grade. After her school days she went to work, learning the business of restaurants and food service. She served in several establishments around Winston-Salem.

Fannie faced several great family losses: beloved Mother to prolonged illness, husband to a drowning accident, and one daughter, the late Constance (Connie) Thomas Thompson, who tragically lost her life as a young adult.

As the years passed, Fannie made the move to Cincinnati, and liked the change. When she faced the challenges of surgery and rehabilitation, she was introduced to the wonderful care and facilities of the Drake Center. Later, when she suffered a stroke, and from Alzheimer's disease, the Drake Center became her home; the staff and volunteers became her extended family. She attended church services at the Center when she could, and affiliated with the Methodist Church.

Fannie knew she could count on them, and she could also count on regular visits from her sister, Carolyn Thomas Hinson, her nieces Kyna and Lisa Hinson, niece and nephew Marla and Walter Fordham, all from Atlanta, and devoted friend Harvey Staplefoote, from Winston-Salem. She also cherished correspondence and greetings from nieces Roslyn Thomas and Tiffany Dover, of Atlanta. Her family circle also includes three grandchildren, Deborah Thomas and Ben and Wesley Thompson, of North Carolina, nieces Joyce Rhodes, Evelyn Williams, and Jean Good, nephews Bernard Thomas and Brian Thomas, and a wider circle of family members.

In the last few days of her life, the kind Drake staff members reported that Fannie's spirited personality gave way to loss of speech and focus. There was time for one more visit from faithful sister Lucille. Fannie had been calling for her, and she finally came. After this, there was more quiet sleep, under the watchful care of nurses from Drake and Hospice of Cincinnati. At last, a quiet end. May God rest her soul.