Obituaries

Carol Mae Thackham, a cherished resident of Bradenton, FL, and Brimley, MI, passed peacefully on September 8, 2026, at the Bradenton Hospice House, concluding a remarkable century filled with life and enrichment.

Born on May 25, 1926, in Newberry, MI, to William Ross and Dorothy Nell (Bodi) Thackham, Carol was the fourth of seven siblings and the family’s treasured first girl. Growing up in Newberry brought her immense joy, and throughout her life she generously supported her alma mater, Newberry High School, and the Tahquamenon Education Foundation. Carol earned her undergraduate degree from Northern Michigan College of Education, now Northern Michigan University, and went on to receive her Master’s in Social Welfare from Florida State University in 1954. Her social work career began at Starr Commonwealth in Albion, MI, after which she joined the faculty at the University of Chicago in the Chicago School of Social Services Administration. Following her return to Florida, Carol dedicated the remainder of her career to the Hillsborough County school system, served as President of the Florida Association of School Social Workers, ultimately retiring as Supervisor of School Social Work Services.

A strong and independent spirit, Carol valued education, lifelong learning, nature, travel, and time spent with family and friends. Her adventurous side led her to obtain her first passport at age 32, embarking on journeys across the U.S. and beyond. Each trip was infused with learning experiences, from attending courses at the University of Oxford and King’s College along with return trips to England to research family genealogy, an educational exchange program in Cuba, teaching English to children in Italy, participating in an archeology dig in Belize, as well as missionary work with the First Congregational Church of Brimley, MI. Many of her explorations were generously shared with loved ones, and Carol’s own travels also spanned pre-1961 West Germany, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Greece, Morocco, New Zealand and of course, Canada, her close northern neighbor of her Michigan Upper Peninsula summer home.

Carol was a devoted member of both the First Congregational Church of Brimley, MI, and the First Presbyterian Church of Bradenton, FL. She had a passion for singing, a love of classical music, and relished every opportunity to dance. Always engaged in creative projects, she ensured that no one in her company felt bored. Whether painting on Lake Superior rocks, driftwood or canvas, crafting clay pottery, caning antique chairs, picking blueberries, or trimming trees, Carol’s enthusiasm was contagious. She remained actively involved in the Brimley Historical Society and Friends of Pendills Creek Hatchery, enrolled in courses at Bay Mills Indian Community College, and was beloved across the communities of Bradenton, FL, Bay Mills, Brimley, Sault Ste. Marie, and Newberry, MI.

Carol has found eternal peace alongside her parents, older brothers and sisters-in-law Ernest (Bud) and Ethel Thackham, William (Bill) and Caroline Thackham, Richard (George) and Mary Thackham, younger brother, Gerald (Buzz) Thackham, baby sister Lois Ann (Thackham) and Tom Santer, and brother-in-law Howard Nebel. She is also reunited with her eldest niece Dorothy (Dotti) Lee Thackham, eldest nephew David Thackham, extended cousins, friends, and all her beloved pets.

She leaves a lasting legacy in the lives of those she touched including her dear sister Laura (Thackham) Nebel of PA; nephews William Thackham of TX, Kevin (Nancy) Santer of IL, Richard (Dana) Thackham of FL; nieces Lee Ann Thackham of TX, Elaine Waldron of FL, Lisa (Anjan) Santer of PA, Lori (Michael) Hudon of MI, Brigitte (Dean) Johnson of WI, Amy (Paul) McKaig of TX, Kathy (Winnie) Thackham of WI and Laura (Roger) Hall of NZ; six great nieces, ten great nephews, many great-grand nieces and nephews and dear friends.

A memorial celebration will be held with family and friends near her U.P. Michigan home at a later date. Memorial contributions can be sent to Boys & Girls Club of Bay Mills, 12435 W. Industrial Dr., Brimley, MI 49715.