W.T. Shumake & Daughters

October 18, 1933 - June 14, 2025

Thelma B. Richardson Martin, 91, of Louisville, transitioned to her Heavenly home on Saturday June 14, 2025 at Baptist Health surrounded by family.

Visitation 4-6pm Saturday, June 21, 2025 at W.T. Shumake & Daughters Funeral Home 3815 Newburg Road and 3-4pm Sunday, June 22, 2025 at Community Missionary Baptist Church 4909 E. Indian Trail. The funeral will follow at 4pm.

Burial 1:30pm Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at Kentucky Veteran Cemetery in Radcliff, Kentucky. The funeral service will be streamed on Shumakefuneralhome website.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to New Legacy Reentry Corp 1115 Garvin Place Louisville, KY 40203.

Thelma B. Richardson was born on Thursday, October 18, 1933, in Taylor County in Campbellsville, Kentucky to the late Elmer and Bessie Richardson. She was the third of ten children.

She made her home in Louisville, KY in 1951 where she attended Sara E. Thomas Beauty College, then located on West Walnut Street (now known as Muhammad Ali Blvd.) She graduated from Beauty College in 1952 and began her career as a licensed cosmetologist.

She married Leonard T. Martin in 1959 and served as a military wife spending three years in Amburg, Germany and three years in Fort Knox, KY where she continued to work in the field of cosmetology. They were married for over 64 years. It was common to see them attend functions, her leading the way volunteering him to take pictures or do some other tasks. They hosted and entertained many in their home. They prepared many meals and provided great conversations. After she could no longer drive, Leonard, “Daddy” would take her to wherever she needed to go, so together they attended many functions, “whether he wanted to or not.”

During her career as a cosmetologist, Thelma has attended hundreds of conferences and hair shows. Her favorite shows were in New York City where her personal driver would pick her up from the airport each year and take her wherever she and her fellow cosmetologists wanted to go. Yes, she was the person to travel with when you went to a New York City Hair Show!

Over the years, she managed and owned three salons:

Trails End Beauty Salon in Louisville, KY
Cinderella Beauty Salon in Radcliff, KY Martin’s Beauty Salon in Louisville, KY

In 1987 she earned her instructor’s license and began teaching aspiring beauticians as an instructor at Donta’s School of Beauty and then. Louisville Paul Mitchell School.

She concluded her career working at Flora’s Beauty Emporium where she worked for over 15 years as a licensed, independent, contractor.

She was a woman of faith serving at her church, Community Missionary Baptist Church, where she was a member since 1967. She was also a member of the Kentucky Congress of Cosmetologist, the National Beauty Culture League (NBCL), and served as a volunteer for Hosparus for over 25 years by doing hair for the sick and dying. She sponsored students through the University of Louisville for over 12 years by taking time out of her schedule to teach them to cook and understand the American culture.

In 2020 she moved into Franciscan Assisted Living where she again got busy! She was a pen-pal to prisoners, she encouraged many residents in the facility, she organized a monthly church service, attended a weekly bible study, and organized gift wrapping by residents, because she gave all workers gifts at Christmas. She also visited the sick in the rehab facility. She volunteered in the facility beauty shop and often encouraged new residents to gather and play bingo. When she no longer could work in the beauty salon, she would go in and sit and talk to the cosmetologist and those receiving services. She loved the field of cosmetology.

On her 90th birthday she received a proclamation from the city of Louisville that October 18 would be Thelma B. Martin Day!

Thelma loved to travel! She spoke about her travels often. She and her long-time friend, Elise Anderson traveled around the world, Japan, Italy. Spain, and many other places. Although she had surrendered her thoughts to travel to Africa, she was very excited for her upcoming trip to Georgia because earlier this year a sickness delayed her trip. She was again preparing to go, but needed to get her real ID, which she was scheduled to get next week, however she couldn’t wait! On Saturday, June 14th she took her heavenly trip to a place where no passport or real ID is required!

On Saturday, June 14, 2025, God called His child from labor to reward. Thelma leaves behind one brother, Joe Richadson; three sisters, Mildred Caldwell, Dorothy Hall and Bonita Smith (Jerry); five children, Randy Martin, (Aimee) Kenneth Martin, Berita Martin (Roger) Gwendolyn Fowler (Kent) Gisela Nelson (Paul); seven grandchildren LeByron Martin, Leah Person (Chuck) Kent Fowler, II, Thomas Conner (Michelle), Andre’ Nelson (Sonya), Paul Nelson, Jr. and Donovan Young (Alaina) and many great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, The truth is, she became mother, grandmother, aunt and big sister to many who were neighbors and friends because she was so giving and loving to everyone she met.

Thelma B. Martin is preceded in death by her husband, Leonard T. Martin; sisters, Georgia Rowe, Edith Richardson and Pearlie Adams; her brothers, Ernest Richardson and Carl Richardson; grandson, Christopher Hinkle.

She will be missed by all who knew her or encountered her giving spirit. She sent many handkerchiefs, encouraging sayings, greeting cards, or $2 bills because she loved people and she wanted them to know it! She loved each of you! Even if she didn’t know you.