In Loving
Memory

Thelma Crosby Perkinson

February 26, 2021

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Thelma Crosby Perkinson, who passed onward peacefully at age 97 on Friday, February 26, 2021, in Richmond, Virginia.

She was a beloved mother, friend, aunt, teacher and mentor. Her insight and genuine interest in people from all walks of life nurtured untold numbers to embrace their unique individualities and talents.

Thel was a barrier-breaking renaissance woman who embodied Southern warmth and relished using hostess and culinary skills learned from her elegant Italian-American grandmother.

Our mother’s quick mind and endless curiosity led her to study and teach jazz, piano; serve as architect, contractor and interior designer for her family’s home; earn a welding certification to create architectural ironwork and sculpture in copper and brass; renovate a Fan District house; lead tours around the world, and study advanced floral design in England and then found her own professional floral design company in Richmond. She was a consummate storyteller who studied writing for more than 30 years, eventually resulting in a novel about life in post-World War II university housing.

Her experience, knowledge, courage, compassion, intelligence and generosity evolved into a deep wisdom and spiritual depth that endeared her to her daughters and to many who sought her counsel and enjoyed her fun-loving humor and gregariousness. As our Mom, she was always by our side with a hand in ours, encouraging us to look wider, to see what else was possible for our lives, that would bring us joy and success in our dreams.

We will miss her beyond words, but we are celebrating, in her words, “the excitement of the next journey.”

She was predeceased by her parents, William Crosby and Thelma Foster. She is survived by three daughters, Pamela Turner, of Richmond, Va., April Perkinson, of Kawasaki, Japan, and Valerie Perkinson Ishmael., of Port Orange, Florida; and by countless cousins who loved her like a sister; nieces to whom she was valued family matriarch; and countless friends of all ages.

Due to pandemic restrictions, at a later date we will honor Thel at a proper celebration in the style she deserves.

Memorial donations may be made to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, vmfa.org, where our mother spent many enjoyable hours with music, art, dining and sharing writing and champagne with friends.

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