Thelma M. Cavalierri

Thelma Maxwell Cavalieri passed peacefully in her sleep Monday, April 7, 2014 at the age of 92 at Magnolia Manor South in Moultrie, GA.  Born in Sneads, Florida on May 1, 1921, Ms. Cavalieri lived most of her childhood and early adulthood in the Thomasville, Georgia area.  Having moved back to Florida in her twenties, she loved teaching Sunday School at the Church of God in Bartow, Florida where her parents and many of her brothers and sisters lived and attended church.  She also enjoyed keeping a beautiful garden, cooking for and spending time with her large family, and always had a kind word and helping hand for anyone in need.  She was a gentle, loving, soft spoken person who will be missed by so many.   She adored her children,  grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as her many nieces and nephews who will miss her and remember her with much love.  Ms. Cavalieri was preceded in death by her former husbands, Merle Richards, William Hoke Bridges and Pace Cavalieri, as well as her eldest son, Robert Daniel Richards and a beloved, precious granddaughter, Elisa Bridges.  Her surviving siblings out of thirteen are her sister, Norma Wiggins of Bartow, Florida and her brother, Eugene Maxwell (Betty Lou) of Tallahassee, FL.  Also mourning her loss are her surviving children Frank Richards (Diana) of Cairo, GA, Caroline Richards of Thomasville, GA, and William Bridges (Tessie) of Houston, TX.   Her surviving grandchildren include Robert Richards (Leonor), Judith Richards, Roger Richards, Michael Richards (Samantha), Daniel Truong (Shannon), Melissa Isham (David), Frank Richards, Jr, Debbie Trammel, Scott Radney (Belle), Jeffrey Radney, Melinda Curles, Mitch Waters (Jennifer), Kevin Kaufman (Alana), Robert Franklin, Michael Pierce (Tiffany), Roger Bridges, and Lauren Kaplan (Reed).  Ms. Cavalieri also had well over 35 great grandchildren and several great great grandchildren, always remembered but too numerous to list here.  The family will be receiving friends Saturday, April 12, 2014 from 1PM until service time at 2PM at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, 650 E. Main, Bartow, FL 33830