Ruth Nell Thrift

Nell Thrift passed away in Lakeland on Thursday, March 10. 2022. She was born in Georgetown, Texas on June 30, 1939, and was the daughter of the late Ruth King and Charles T. Thrift, Jr. Nell was an honor graduate of Lakeland High School, and received an A.B. degree with honors from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina in 1961. She also received a M.A. degree in teaching from Emory University. She was an English teacher at Lakeland High School for 36 years and served as chairman of the English Department for ten years. She served as an adviser to the senior class and the literary magazine and helped to develop an honors curriculum. She was the author of All You Ever Wanted to Know About Writing a Research Paper, a student guide. Nell was the Lakeland Jaycees Outstanding Young Educator in 1968 and was named Polk county Teacher of the Year in 1979. Nell also received awards from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the Florida Scholastic Press Association. After teaching, Nell served as an archivist for the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church for 23 years. She was a member and past chair of the Commission on Archives and History for the Florida Conference UMC and was a member and past president of the Southeastern Jurisdiction and Historical Society of the UMC. Nell was also a member and past chair of the Commission on Archives and History, Southeastern Jurisdiction of the UMC. Nell was a longtime member of College Heights United Methodist Church where she served as historian, a member of the Church council, the Scholarship Committee and United Methodist Women. She was also the author of On the Wings of Faith, a history of the church. She was a member and past president of Chapter IV, P.E.O. sisterhood; Lambda Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, teachers’ honorary society; Founders Group Antique Collectors Club; and the Contemporary Club. Nell was also a member of the Junior League. In her spare time, Nell enjoyed traveling and visited many parts of the world. She especially enjoyed yearly trips to London. Nell was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Helen Sue Thrift. She is survived by her sister, Mary Thrift Chambers, and brother-in-law, Carlile Chambers. In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to College Heights United Methodist Church, 942 South Blvd., Lakeland, Florida 33803 or to the Charles T. and Ruth K, Thrift Scholarship, Florida Southern College, 111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801.