Corporal Thelma Virginia Poppell Edenfield

Early Life

Thelma Poppell was born on July 9, 1931, in Leon County, Florida, to Mainor Scott Poppell and Claudia Mae Brady Poppell. She was the youngest of four children in a close-knit rural family. The 1940 U.S. Census shows that the Poppell family lived in a farming community in Election Precinct 10 of Leon County. Like many families in the area, they likely relied on agriculture for their livelihood. Growing up in this setting, Thelma would have been accustomed to the hard work and discipline that came from living in semi-rural community and being in an outdoor environment, circumstances that may have contributed to her athletic prowess and future military career. 

Her father, Mainor Scott Poppell, Sr., was in his early fifties by the time Thelma was a young girl. While census records do not provide exact details on his profession, it is likely that he was involved in farming or another trade common in rural Florida. Her mother, Claudia, managed the household and likely contributed to farm duties. Thelma, growing up in this environment, would have been no stranger to responsibility, helping with chores and learning the values of perseverance and self-sufficiency from an early age.

Despite the demands of rural life, education was clearly a priority for the Poppell family. Thelma attended Leon High School in Tallahassee, Florida, where she flourished academically and athletically. She was a standout on the women’s basketball team, eventually becoming co-captain. Her athleticism and leadership earned her the title of “Most Athletic” in her senior yearbook in 1949. But Thelma’s interests extended beyond sports—she was an active member of the Girl’s Letter Club, the Torch Club, Junior Honor Society, Spanish Club, and Debate Club. These extracurricular activities highlight her well-rounded nature, suggesting she was not only competitive but also intellectually curious and socially engaged.

After graduating from high school, Thelma continued her education at Florida State University, also located in Leon County. However, after two years, she decided to leave college and enlist in the military in 1951. This choice marked a turning point in her life, shifting from a path of higher education to one of service, discipline, and adventure. Her intellect, ability to work in teams with others, athletic prowess, and overall homegrown American life led her to being an ideal candidate for the U.S. military during its time of needed recruits.

Homefront

During Thelma Poppell’s youth in the 1930s and 1940s, Tallahassee, Florida, was in the midst of significant economic and social transformations. As part of the broader Southern agricultural economy, Tallahassee and its surrounding areas relied on farming, forestry, and livestock domestication. The rural landscape was dominated by small-scale farms producing staple crops including cotton, corn, and tobacco, though the Great Depression had caused many agricultural communities to struggle. By the 1940s, mechanization and new farming techniques were gradually modernizing the industry, reducing the reliance on manual labor. This shift had long-term implications, particularly for rural families like the Poppells, as farming communities had to adapt to new economic realities.

Socially, the United States was undergoing major cultural shifts, particularly regarding women’s roles in society. The 1930s and 1940s saw an increasing emphasis on education for young women, and Poppell’s ability to attend and graduate from Leon High School reflects this growing trend. More women were entering high school and even pursuing higher education, though their participation remained lower than that of men. The fact that she was able to engage in extracurricular activities, such as basketball, further indicates a shift in the perception of women’s physical capabilities and leadership potential.

The biggest turning point in gender roles, however, came during and after the Korean War (1950–1953). Just a few years after Poppell graduated from high school, the war prompted another wave of female workforce participation. Much like during World War II, women took on jobs in industries and roles traditionally reserved for men. Though many were expected to return to domestic life after the war, the cultural expectation that women could contribute beyond the home had already taken hold. Poppell’s decision to leave college and enlist in the military in 1951 places her at the forefront of this societal change. During this period, women in the U.S. military were still limited in their roles, but their service was becoming increasingly accepted and valued.

Poppell grew up in a time of agricultural and industrial transformation, with Tallahassee adapting to modernization in farming and emerging a center of commerce and political importance as the state of Florida’s capital. At the same time, the cultural landscape for women was evolving, allowing them greater access to education, athletics, and professional opportunities—trends that were accelerated by the Korean War and the changing expectations of women in American society. Poppell’s enlistment in the military signified her participation in these shifts, as more women sought roles beyond traditional domestic life and pursued careers in previously male-dominated fields.

Military Experience

Women were first permitted to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps in a limited capacity during World War I. However, it was not until February 13, 1943, that the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve was officially established. By the end of World War II, more than 20,000 women served in non-combat roles such as clerks, radio operators, and mechanics, allowing male Marines to fight overseas. During this period, women in military service were primarily assigned to administrative and support positions, including roles in logistics, communications, and technical support. Their contributions were crucial to sustaining wartime operations and reshaping perceptions of women’s capabilities in the armed forces. The experience gained by women during World War II set a precedent for future generations and paved the way for greater military integration in the decades that followed. 

Feeling a strong desire to serve her country while attending college, Poppell officially enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on April 22, 1952. Although she was never deployed, she served on active duty as a member of the 6^th Marine Corps Reserve and Recruiting District in Washington D.C for a year and a half, ultimately achieving the rank of corporal.

During her service, she completed nine months of disbursing school, where she received specialized training in military finance and payroll operations. The Marine Corps Disbursing School prepared service members to handle financial transactions, including processing pay and allowances, travel reimbursements, and other financial matters essential to supporting Marines and their families. She later served in the Aviation Logistics Division (ALD), whose mission was to assist commanders in maintaining readiness in areas such as aircraft maintenance, support equipment, mobile facilities, and aviation munitions. Within ALD, she worked as an assistant steward, clerk typist, and file clerk, where she was responsible for maintaining records, processing reports, and ensuring the efficient organization of logistical and administrative information.

During her time in Washington, D.C., Poppell served as a clerk in a recruiting battalion, where she played a vital role in administrative operations that supported the enlistment and processing of new Marines. Her responsibilities included maintaining personnel records, handling official correspondence, and ensuring the accurate documentation of enlistment paperwork. As part of the recruiting battalion, she contributed to the Marine Corps’ efforts to expand its ranks by assisting in the coordination of recruitment efforts and providing essential clerical support. Her work helped streamline the enlistment process and ensured the efficient functioning of the unit, reflecting the critical behind-the-scenes contributions of women in the military during this era.  For her service, she was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. She was honorably discharged on October 30, 1953.

Veteran Experience

After being honorably discharged from her military service, Thelma Poppell settled in Tallahassee, Florida. On October 2, 1953, she married Lawrence Hawkins, but this marriage did not last. 

Twelve years later, in June 1965, she married James Edenfield. Thelma and James had one son named Patrick. In 1967, Edenfield returned to college and graduated from Florida State University.

Edenfield was a devoted civil servant, working as a teacher in multiple schools across southern Alabama and northern Florida, positively impacting countless students with her commitment to education. Later she served as a Medicaid Eligibility Specialist for the State of Florida, helping individuals navigate the complexities of healthcare access and ensuring they received the support they needed.

Edenfield was deeply involved in her community outside of her professional work. She was an active member of local basketball and softball leagues, where she enjoyed engaging with others in her community. She was also a committed member of the Crawfordville Baptist Church, where she maintained her membership until her passing in 2022. As Minister of Music, she contributed significantly to the life of the church, uplifting those around her through her service.

Commemoration

Thelma Edenfield’s life reflects the selfless dedication of many Americans who served their country throughout the Cold War, not only through military service but by engaging in public service and being an upstanding member of society. 

She passed away on April 19, 2022, at the age of 90, leaving behind a legacy of service, compassion, and devotion to her family, faith, and community. She rests in Tallahassee National Cemetery in Tallahassee, Florida.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

“9th Grade Events.” Tallahassee Democrat [Tallahassee, FL], May 19, 1946. Newspapers.com (244301252).

“AAUW Combines Business Meeting With Program Here On Economic and Legal Status of Women.” Tallahassee Democrat [Tallahassee, FL], January 10, 1945. Newspapers.com (243301200). 

“Beef Increase.” Tallahassee Democrat [Tallahassee, FL], December 29, 1953. Newspapers.com (245074537).

Edenfield Family Photographs. http://ancestry.com. 

Florida. Leon County. 1940 U.S. Census. Digital images. https://ancestry.com. 

“FSU’s Grad List From Big Bend.” Tallahassee Democrat [Tallahassee, FL], August 6, 1967. Newspapers.com (245755702).

“Jane Eads Washington Letter.” Tallahassee Democrat [Tallahassee, FL], February 23, 1948. Newspapers.com (244758600). 

Lion’s Tale. Florida State University, 1949. https://repository.lib.fsu.edu/islandora/object/fsu:525509#page/134/mode/2up.

“Military Woos Girls for Service.” Tallahassee Democrat [Tallahassee, FL], March 1, 1951. Newspapers.com (244684943). 

“New Shirt Firm Due to Start Operations During January.” Tallahassee Democrat [Tallahassee, FL], December 15, 1946. Newspapers.com (244784844). 

“Poppell-Edenfield.” Tallahassee Democrat [Tallahassee, FL], November 1, 1964. Newspapers.com (245189359). 

“Tallahassee Grows, Grows And End Is Not In Sight.” Tallahassee Democrat [Tallahassee, FL], December 1, 1953. Newspapers.com (245072007). 

“Thelma Poppell Edenfield.” Bevish Funeral Home. Accessed December 27, 2024. https://www.bevisfh.com/obituaries/Thelma-Edenfield/#!/Obituary.

Thelma Poppell Edenfield. U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls. Digital images. https://ancestry.com. 

Thelma Virginia Poppell. Florida, U.S., Marriage Indexes, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001. https://www.ancestry.com/.

Thelma Virginia Poppell Edenfield. DD-214, Department of the Marine Corps. National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

Thelma Virginia Poppell Edenfield. Official Military Personnel File, Department of the Marine Corps. National Archives and Records Administration – St. Louis.

“Thelma Poppell Edenfield.” The Wakulla News, April 26, 2022. https://www.chronicleonline.com/weeklies/wakulla_news/obituaries/thelma-poppell-edenfield/article_b695bad5-a988-5969-aef1-2571a8a3be4f.html. 

“Vital Statistics Reflect Great Growth of Tallahassee.” Tallahassee Democrat [Tallahassee, FL], December 2, 1953. Newspapers.com (245072114). 

Secondary Sources

“History.” United States Marine Corps. Accessed December 30, 2024. https://www.marfork.marines.mil/About/History/. 

“Thelma P. Edenfield.” Veterans Legacy Memorial, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Accessed April 22, 2025. https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/THELMAPEDENFIELD/a2e68d. 

“Thelma Virginia Poppell Edenfield.” Find a Grave. Updated March 2, 2023. Accessed April 22, 2025. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/250071833/thelma-virginia-edenfield. 

“Women in the Marine Corps.” U.S. Marine Corps History Division. Accessed April 2, 2025. https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/People/Women-in-the-Marine-Corps/.

This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.