Thelmetia Y. Bynum

Obituary

Thelmetia Yvette Argrett Bynum

Thelmetia Argrett Bynum, 83, transitioned to be with the Lord at 12:04am on Monday, November 25th at home surrounded by her family.

She was born on November 15, 1941 to the late James and Thelma Argrett in Jacksonville, FL. Along with her brother, James Jr and sister, Alkania, Thelmetia attended Duval County Public Schools where she graduated with honors from New Stanton Senior High School in 1958. She was active in Sunday School at Grant Memorial AME Church and enjoyed playing the organ.

She went on to attend Howard University where she earned a BS Degree in Chemistry. It was in 1960 that she was introduced to society as a debutante. While at Howard University, she was active with American Chemical Society, YMCA, NAACP and was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Inc.

She began dating the love of her life in 1960. She went on to marry Dr. Raleigh Wesley Bynum in 1963 and moved to Fort Dix, NJ where he was stationed in active-duty army. During that time while Raleigh was in active duty, they began their travels around the world. While stationed in Germany, Thelmetia continued her studies and obtained her Master’s Degree in Education from Boston University.

Their love of travel was evident to all who knew them. Thelmetia and Raleigh would eventually travel to all seven continents, all 50 states and countless countries. After returning to the US from Raleigh’s active duty, they settled in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1967. They were widely considered to be the first black family in the Hidden Valley Estates community. Thelmetia was no stranger to firsts. It is notable that she also became the first black female instrument rated private pilot in the Southeast. They would leverage her pilots license for many of their travels electing to have Thelmetia and Raleigh fly the family across the country. Shortly after arriving in Charlotte, Thelmetia joined Celanese Corporation as a chemist. However, she quickly transitioned to her love of education and joined Charlotte Mecklenburg School System as a School Counselor in 1968.She retired from there 30 years later in 1998.

She and Raleigh joined Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in April 1968. She became a Sunday School teacher and later a Deaconess as well as volunteering with Angel Tree, Great Things Thrift Store and Spirit of Christmas. She also dutifully served as a Girl Scout leader of Troop 521 from 1975 to the present (49 years). And she combined her love of travel with her love to serve and traveled with the church on multiple mission trips.

During this time, she and Raleigh became parents and she expertly balanced being a mother to three children, Raleigh II (b. 1968), Monjya (b. 1969) and Zerrick (b. 1970) while also being a wife, manager to the family’s rental portfolio and much-loved Guidance Counselor, primarily at Eastway Junior High School. They are blessed with seven grandchildren.

She is known for her love of gardening and especially appreciated a good red rose, peonies and orchids. Several of her house plants are over 35 years old. Other activities that she was especially fond of include snow skiing, golfing, shopping and playing pinochle. But her most treasured times included spending time with family, her dog, Cocoa and her grandkids. She was a long-time member of the “Charlotte Information Society” Pinochle Club and attained life membership with NAACP, Girl Scouts, The Girl Friends Incorporated and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.

She is preceded in death by her parents James and Thelma Argrett, her brother, James Argrett Jr. and sister, Alkania Crosby.

Left to cherish her beautiful memory is a devoted husband of 62 years, Raleigh Bynum; three loving children, Raleigh Bynum II, Zerrick (Fati) Bynum and Monjya (Curtis) Parker; seven Grandchildren, Skylar Manneh, Raleigh Bynum III, Siaka Bynum, Zahra Bynum, Brandon Parker, Aleeya Parker and Jaida Parker; brother in law, Charles (Idella) Bynum; sister in law, Agnes King Horne; thirteen nephews, Brian (Cheryl) Argrett, Erick (Joyce) Crosby, Charles (Denitra) Bynum II, Elton (Pamela) King, Ervin (Syrena) King, Billy (Barbara) Wells, Willie Wells Jr, Carlton (Clara) Wells, Anthony Wells, Tyrone Bynum, Michael Bynum, Hilbert Bynum and Gilbert Bynum; nine nieces, Lisa (Zubaid) Ahmed, LeKania Gay, C. Denise (Jerome) King, Norma (Phillip) Brice, Gwen Mordecai, Sonya (Jacob) Olds, Lillian Asberry, Chiniqua Davis, and Sheree Bynum; and a host of cousins and other relatives and dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Thelmetia’s honor to the Coleman W. Kerry Scholarship Fund of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church located at 3301 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte NC 28216.