Josephine Thomas Talley

Josephine Thomas Talley was the daughter of the late James Thomas and Josephine West Thomas. She was born on October 4, 1943 in Pinewood, South Carolina. She departed this life on April 10, 2024, at Montefiore Nyack Hospital in Nyack, NY at the age of 80.

Josephine attended Clarendon County schools throughout her childhood. While at Manchester High School she enjoyed home economics and watching school basketball games. Josephine was a natural beauty and was a participant of the Homecoming Parade court. Josephine moved to the big city of New York in 1961 where she met and married  Henry A. Talley in Mount Vernon, NY on September 1, 1962. Josephine and Henry raised four children together. She worked until the age of 70 as a domestic worker and often was thought of as a second mother to the family's children.

Josephine was a faithful member of the White Plains Deliverance Center, Inc. in Mount Vernon, NY from the year of 1968 until she was unable to attend due to the pandemic. During the pandemic, Josephine lived with all her children in their homes until she became ill. She was a mother of the church and was affectionately known as Mother Talley. While at home she was referred to as Mommy, Grandma, Mama Talley, Joe, Josie, or ToonGal by her siblings.

Josephine was a stoic woman at times. Serious to a degree but loved a good laugh. Her favorite pastime was being with and cooking for her family. Her macaroni and cheese is legendary, just ask her grandchildren! While her potato salad was a hit with the older crowd. She loved ice cream, pretty flowers, Red Door perfume and all things clean. Saturday mornings was cleanup day in the Talley household, music and scrubbing went hand in hand.

Josephine was a talker. She loved talking on the telephone to friends and family. She would go through her address book and call family and friends throughout the day. Josephine was just a good, genuine, and humble person. We knew Josephine was in a good mood when she would randomly break out into a gospel song or an old Motown classic.

Josephine leaves to cherish her memory her four children: her son, Harold (Dedra) Thomas of Bowie, MD; her three daughters: Cynthia (Glendon) Talley-Darby of Asbury, NJ; Gail (Algernon) Talley-Quattlebaum of Bronx, NY; and Tywanda (Curtis) Talley-Rushing of Norwalk, CT; four sisters, Margaretta Cantey and Catherine Hamid of Pinewood, SC; Henrietta West of Roseboro, NC; and Marilyn Montgomery of Columbia, SC; one brother Richard Thomas of Baldwin, NY; six grandchildren: David, Tierra, Jared, Travis, Chaz,and Asiah; three great grandchildren: Malaya, Carsyn, and Camryn; a host of nieces and nephews and close family friends, Nancy Forbes of Bronx, NY and Thomas Allen of Richmond, VA.

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