Thelma Hedgpeth McIntyre, 94, of Lumberton, NC passed away on Sunday, May 16, 2021, at Wesley Pines retirement home. She was born on July 28, 1926, to Elmer Lewis Hedgpeth and Annie Ashley Hedgpeth of Fairmont. She was born and reared in Fairmont, prior to moving to Lumberton after her marriage to the late Dr. Douglas C. McIntyre of Lumberton.

She was well-known as a local banker, having been a trailblazer for professional women in banking. After attending Flora Macdonald College, she started her career with the National Bank of Lumberton and then, subsequently, worked at the bank in the Merchandise Mart in Chicago while her husband attended optometry school. Upon their return to Lumberton, she worked with Waccamaw Bank and Trust Company at its Five Points Branch in her hometown of Fairmont before coming back to Lumberton when Waccamaw opened its first office on North Court Square beside the Robeson County Courthouse, where she was later named assistant cashier. She became one of the first female branch managers when Waccamaw opened its Biggs Park branch, which later became United Carolina Bank, and she oversaw use of the bank's first ATM at her branch. She later became the first female manager of a main downtown office of Waccamaw when it opened its new building at the corner of 7th and Chestnut Streets in Lumberton and worked there as Assistant Vice President until her retirement in 1985. She also served on the State Board of Directors for the National Association of Bank Women.

Active in the First Presbyterian Church, she served as chair of the Presbyterian Women's Support Group; chair of the volunteer receptionists for the church office, co-chair of the bereavement committee; coordinator of the volunteer staff for the church newsletter; was an active member of the Lacy McKenzie Bible Class; was a member of the Witness Committee and Congregational Care Committee; and had served as a volunteer worker on the church grounds. She was also a volunteer worker and hostess for the Celebration of Faith in 1991 and in 1993 and a delegate to the Christian Life Conference in Montreat for several years, having also participated in lay renewals at other churches and having served as a hostess and participant in the Lumberton Christian Women's Club activities. In recognition of her service, she was selected as a Life Honorary Member of Presbyterian Women.

Having served on the Robeson County Human Relations Commission, she also spearheaded the sales of the book, Away Down Home, a history of Robeson County, and served on the Board of Directors of Historic Robeson, Inc., and as  coordinator of its annual banquet; treasurer of the Biggs Park Merchants Association; president of the Readers Book Club; coordinator of the countywide homecoming event in 1987 as part of the Robeson County Bicentennial Commission; and was an active member of the Lumberton Garden Club.

Known for her beautiful handwriting, she was perpetually chosen to address invitations for community events, including those during her service as secretary of the Lumberton Cotillion Club.

Her unique collection of dolls through the years was a special attraction that she shared with children and friends from throughout the community.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, a brother, E. L. Hedgpeth, a sister, Betty Hedgpeth Hancock, and a half-brother, Joseph Lynwood Ashley.

She is survived by her daughters, Linda McIntyre Mansy (Joe), an interior designer, of Alexandria, VA; Karon McIntyre Strickland (Gary), an educator, of Fayetteville, NC and a son, former Congressman Douglas Carmichael "Mike" McIntyre II (Dee), an attorney, of Chapel Hill/Hillsborough; four grandchildren: Amy Weeks (Steve) and Joel Strickland (Whitney), both of Fayetteville; Joshua McIntyre (Sarah) of Durham; and Stephen McIntyre (Angelica) of Lumberton. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren: Bailey and Bentley Weeks and Nolan and Avery Strickland, all of Fayetteville; Hamilton McIntyre of Lumberton; as well as one additional great-grandchild expected in July and a brother, Carey Hedgpeth (Betty) of Greer, SC.

A graveside service is scheduled to be held at Meadowbrook Cemetery on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at 11:00 AM. The family will receive at the graveside immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Lumberton, Historic Robeson, Inc. or Wesley Pines Retirement Home.

Funeral services will be lived streamed via Facebook at Floyd Mortuary & Crematory, Inc.