Wednesday's Woman: Sheilia Thurmon

Writer, former improv comedian, video editor and producer, Boy Scout volunteer, youth leader and kidney donor. These are just a few of the ways Sheilia Thurmon of Snellville can be described. On top of this, she’s a very active wife, mother and daughter.

Thurmon describes herself as a “writer at heart.” She’s written everything from screenplays to teleplays to about a dozen interactive murder mysteries.

In her life, one thing has led to another.

Thurmon was working as the only employee of a two-man Atlanta law firm and had hours of free time to write. The firm was on the same floor as a murder mystery company, so she began moonlighting as an actress there. Soon, another company approached her to write and perform.

Thurmon joined with writing partner, Jon Schwartz, and produced about a dozen mysteries. In 1992, one show featured an entertainer who got shot four different times. was hired to play the part. Sheilia and Dan subsequently began dating and were married in 1993.

Sheilia Thurmon attended Georgia State University to study writing, and she said it was natural to take film courses. The skill is very useful when producing demo reels for Motivation Works, Inc., a business that she owns with her husband. It’s also been very useful in her volunteer work.

Thurmon was serving as the mission chair for her church when she began taking meals to a halfway house for recovering alcoholics and addicts.

“In meeting these guys, I was so impressed with how awesome they were and how their recovery was so solid,” she said. “People need to know that you can get out of the addiction and have a fulfilling life."

So, she produced a DVD, “Living in Recovery,” which features a recovering addict. It's about truly living, and not just making it day to day. Now, Thurmon is looking for other people to tell their stories of recovery to add to the series. She is also in the process of another film project with her husband called "No Limits," which focuses on positive goal setting for youth.

Thurmon also has volunteered at International Rescue Committee, where she met one of her closest friends, Lida. Lida, an Iranian woman, was part of the refugee family that Thurmon sponsored.

“We were best friends before we even shared a language,” Thurmon said. “I remember at one point when Lida learned enough English, she said ‘Sheilia, there is so much in my heart that I want to tell you’ and I felt the exact same way.”

And, then she received an email that changed her life again.

Her husband’s mom knew the father of 17-year-old Connor Comeans, who had received a transplanted kidney from his mother when he was 9. Thurmon said Connor was having a tough time and her husband, Dan, now an award-winning motivational speaker, invited Connor and his family to attend the Big Apple Circus.

Six months later, Sheilia Thurmon received an email from Connor's dad, Bob Comeans. It had been sent to his entire contact list. Connor was in need of another kidney.

“By the time I had finished reading the email, I had made the decision to be a donor,” Thurmon said.

“That night, I said to Dan, ‘Did you see Bob’s email?’ He looked at me and said, ‘You’re going to do it, aren’t you?’ I laughed and said yes. He said, ‘I knew you’d never get out of this life with both kidneys.’ He had been saying that for the last couple of years because I’m always giving stuff away,” she said, smiling.

With her quirky sense of humor, Thurmon had a shirt made that said “My Other Kidney is an Eagle Scout.” Having always wanted to be a Boy Scout because of her love of camping and high adventure, she said “That’s the icing on the cake” in addition to feeling as if she’s now part of Connor’s family.

“I actually sent Bob (Connor’s father) an email at one point thanking him. I get to be a part of this wonderful family. I’ve invited love into my life,” she realized.

Today, Sheilia, a former Cub Scout den leader, serves as a Boy Scout merit badge counselor and committee member for Troop 553 at  in Snellville. In addition, she's a youth leader at .

Sheila gets great joy out of talking about her family, including her children: Eddie, 12, who his mom calls a “a young Steven Spielberg; and Maggie, 9, who enjoys singing and dancing. And, about a year ago, Thurmon’s mom, June, moved into their home. She's the resident positive cheerleader.

Who inspires her?

 “When I think of people I admire, the first one who always comes to mind is Mother Teresa,” Thurmon said. “I love her quote, ‘We can not all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.’”

It's a quote that aptly describes her life.