Thelma Ernestine Hayes McMillan was born October 24, 1931, in Huntington, West Virginia, to Iddo and Ernestine (Chapman) Hayes. She was raised in Athalia, Ohio, and graduated as valedictorian from Rome High School in 1949. After her education she moved to Huntington where she attended business college and began working as a secretary/bookkeeper. She married Ernest McMillan Jr. on August 15, 1957, at Central Christian Church in Huntington. After marriage they remained in Huntington and started their family. In 1971, Thelma began working for the City of Huntington as secretary/treasurer of the Huntington Sanitary Board, retiring in 1985. Ernest, who was employed by Huntington Alloys for 41 years, passed away on March 24, 1999. While living in Huntington her family attended Crossroads United Methodist Church. Thelma lived for a time at Woodlands Retirement Community until moving to Northfield, Minnesota, in 2008. She was a worker, wife and mother who lived to love and care for her family.

Survivors include her daughters: Denise McMillan-Leftow and husband Brian of Oxford, England, Marguerite "Rita" Smith and husband Mike of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Donna McMillan and husband Steven Bayne of Northfield, Minnesota; 2 grandchildren: Douglas Smith and wife Audrey of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Mallorie Smith of Washington, DC; two sisters: Dorothy Burcham and Elsie Aliff, both of Proctorville, Ohio; one brother, Donald Hayes and wife Ernestine of Proctorville; nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, and her parents.

Thelma passed away, with her daughters by her side, on Tuesday morning, May 17, 2011, at Reflections Care Suites on the Three Links Campus in Northfield, Minnesota, at the age of 79.

Funeral services will be 2PM Saturday, May 21, 2011, at Chapman’s Mortuary in Huntington. Interment will be in Rome Cemetery, Proctorville, Ohio. Visitation will be 6-8PM Friday, May 20, 2011, at Chapman’s Mortuary.