The following obituary was previously published in ACA's Counseling Today and submitted by friend and colleague Helen Leonard:

Dr. Thelma Jones Vriend

Born to Thomas and Mary Jones in Panama City, Florida, on July 20, 1929, Thelma Jones learned at a young age that education would be her path to fulfillment. Teachers recognized Thelma’s brightness; mentors groomed her and opened doors which she passed through easily. Thelma Jones Vriend gave back in kind. As a teacher, counselor, administrator, role model and friend, she went on to influence young people throughout her life.

Thelma Jones was accepted into Florida A & M at the age of fifteen. After her sophomore year, she moved to Detroit to be with her sister, Piccola, enrolled in Lewis Business College and was an office worker for the City of Detroit. She left that job and with her savings, entered Wayne State University and graduated with a degree in Family Life Education. It was at that point that the future Dr. Vriend began her life’s calling when she taught Family Living at Eastern High School.

Finding that she spent as much time counseling as teaching, Dr. Vriend returned to Wayne and acquired a Master’s Degree in Counseling before joining the staff of Kettering High School. At that time, Kettering and its feeder schools were involved in The Developmental Career Guidance Project led by Dr. George Leonard of Wayne State. That association prompted Thelma to apply for a National Defense and Education Act grant in order to study at New York University’s year- long institute which focused on counseling minority students. Upward Bound, which originated at Wayne State, also emerged from the NDEA.

Thelma Jones received her Doctorate from NYU in Guidance and Counseling. During the time of the institute, she met her future husband, Dr. John Vriend, who returned with her to Detroit and joined the faculty of Wayne State.

Aiming to create change through leadership, Dr. Vriend accepted the position of Dean of Student Services at Wayne County Community College. She went on to become Vice-President of the College and saw it through a period of extensive growth in the region. After retiring from WCCC, Dr. Vriend taught counseling classes, part-time in the College of Education.

Thelma Jones Vriend served on many Boards and Committees. Professionally, they included the Michigan and National Vocational Guidance Associations; Michigan and National Personnel and Guidance Associations and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Locally she served on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Area Agency on Aging and Leadership Detroit. Recently she was named the Chi Sigma Iota Sorority’s Scholar. She was a member of Zeta Chi Beta Sorority.

Dr. Vriend is survived by her sister Piccola Jones of Detroit; nephew David Jones of Panama City, Florida; many great and great-great nieces and nephews and many cousins. She was pre- deceased by her former husband, Dr. John Vriend and her companion of many years, John Webb. She is also survived by many good friends including Dr. Reginald Wilson, former President of WCCC, Arlene Altman, Dr. Charmaine Johnson and Helen Leonard who saw her through her illness.

A Memorial Service took place on Saturday, February 12, 2011at Fellowship Chapel, 7707 West Outer Drive, Detroit, 48235.

A Scholarship has been established in memory of Dr. Vriend. Contributions may be made to: Florida A & M University Foundation, Inc., Dr. Thelma Jones Vriend Scholarship Fund, Post Office Box 6562, Tallahassee, Florida, 32314-6562, Attention: Mrs. Audrey Simmons Smith.

If you would like to make a donation to CSI in memory of Dr. Cooper, you can contribute to CSI’s General Fund.

Originally posted on 4/25/2011 at csi-net.org.

Executive Director, Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic & Professional Honor Society International 

Originally posted on 4/18/2011 at csi-net.org.

Originally posted on 4/20/2011 at csi-net.org.