Thurma Lee Qualls, born March 16, 1947, passed away on September 16, 2026.

Thurma Lee will be remembered as a woman whose life was centered on family, hard work, and devotion to those she loved. She was a high-school graduate and continued her education with some college. In her working life, she was the owner of Martin’s Grocery Store in the Center Hill area. She took over the role as owner upon her dad’s retirement on January 1st, 1982, and ran it until April 1999. Thurma Lee served as the post master for Center Hill for a short time when Martin’s Grocery was also the local post office.

Above all, Thurma Lee’s life was richly woven with the love of her family. She is survived by her husband, John Qualls, and by her daughters, Vanessa Presson (Wade), Valorie Cox, and Holly Cunningham (Jarrod). She also leaves behind a cherished younger generation who brought great joy to her life: her grandchildren, Chris Bland, Cody Cox, Cortney Bland, Bailey Cunningham, Mackenzie Tidwell, and Meg Cunningham, along with her great-grandchildren, Abbie Bland, Maddie Bland, Harper Metz, Axle Metz, and Daxton Tidwell.

She was preceded in death by her father, Thurman Martin; her mother, Clausezella Martin; her sister, Aletta Robinson; and her son, Mark Allen Qualls. Those who knew Thurma Lee understand that the bonds of family shaped her life in profound ways, and the memory of those who went before her remained part of her story.

The family will receive friends Friday, September 18th, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Phillips Funeral Home. A graveside service will be Saturday, September 19th, at 10:00 a.m. at Greene County Memorial Gardens with Chad Robinson officiating.

Sonny Tidwell, Chris Bland, Reed Kappleman, Jarrod Cunningham, Cody Cox, and Wade Presson will be serving as pallbearers.