HatchettGREENSBORO — As part of her legacy, the late Thelma Simpson Hatchett, a Greensboro native and social justice activist, left an estate gift of over $47,000 to her beloved parish, St. Mary's – creating the Thelma Hatchett Endowment Fund to support its Black Catholic Ministry and address the general needs of the congregation.
Hatchett, who passed away Dec. 1, 2021, at the age of 87, dedicated her life to serving the Greensboro parish community. St. Mary's was established in 1928 to serve Black Catholics in the segregated southeastern area of Greensboro. St. Mary’s has been led by Vincentian priests since 1939, and today it is one of the most ethnically diverse parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte.
Vincentian Father John Timlin, pastor, said the generous gift will help members of St. Mary's and the community learn more about the Black Catholic experience.
“Thelma loved St. Mary's,” he said. “She had a strong passion for racial justice, and she was unafraid to speak her mind.”
Born to a devout Catholic family, Hatchett attended St. Mary's Catholic School and Dudley High School, and she received her bachelor’s degree from Bennett College in Greensboro.
She participated in the desegregation of movie theaters in downtown Greensboro and took an active role with sit-ins during the Civil Rights Movement before moving to New York in 1961. There she was a teacher with New York City schools, a lecturer and reading coordinator at Hunter College, and later an adjunct lecturer at Bronx Community College.
Upon returning home in 1976, Hatchett worked for Guilford County Schools and immersed herself in St. Mary’s parish life. She was a member and chairperson of the Parish Council, and she assisted with fundraising and the parish’s 75th anniversary celebration. Hatchett also served on the Bereavement Committee and the National Black Catholic Congress in Buffalo, New York, and Indianapolis, Indiana.
Her dedication to civil rights was a theme throughout her life, said Carolyn Smith, Hatchett’s aunt and a fellow parishioner. “She was a strong young adult. She was an educator and dedicated to educational excellence.”
“We are grateful for Thelma’s commitment to St. Mary's and to Black Catholic Ministry,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan development director. “We encourage others to follow her example by leaving a legacy to the Church in their estate plans, whether that gift be to St. Mary's or any of our parishes, schools, agencies or diocesan ministries.”
— Courtney McLaughlin, correspondent
Fund an endowment
You can establish an endowment in the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation by leaving a bequest in a will, a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan, a trust or annuity, or a gift of real estate, life insurance, cash or securities. For details, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..