Griffin Thompson

Griffin Edward Thompson

Wrens, GA  –              Services for Reverend Griffin Edward Thompson, 91, will be held Monday, May 7, 2018, at Deepstep United Methodist Church at 2:00 P.M.  Interment will follow at Washington County Memorial Gardens in Sandersville.  Dr. Stan Littleton, Rev. Larry Giles, Rev. Chad Watkins and Rev. Jason McClendon will officiate.

Rev. Thompson was born November 15, 1926. A native of Wilkinson County, he attended Georgia Southern College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Education.  He later received his Master’s Degree in Education from Georgia College in Milledgeville.  Following his college career, he accepted his first job as principal of Warthen Elementary School.  It was in Warthen that he met the love of his life, Elizabeth Bussell.  He was 22 and she was 17.  The two married August 7, 1949 after a three-month courtship.  Rev. Thompson then served as principal of Deepstep School from 1951 to 1964, and then as a teacher of American Government at Washington County High School from 1967 to 1970.  In 1968, Rev. Thompson completed a course of study in Theology at Emory University.  He served 62 years in the South Georgia Conference, pastoring at Deepstep, Bartow, Adrian, Wrens, Brewton Charge, Gibson, Zoar and Vidette.  He retired in 2016 at the age of 89.  Rev. Thompson went to be with his Savior on Friday, May 4, 2018 at his home following an extended illness.

Rev. Thompson was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Reba Thompson; his brothers, Wilbur, Ray and Jack; his daughter-in-law, Dianne Thompson; and his grandson, Scotty Thompson.

Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Elizabeth Thompson; three children, Scott Thompson (Kathleen), Jane Stanley (Stuart, and Brian Thompson (Wanda); his sister, Joyce Miller (Charles); a brother, Guy Thompson (Georgia); his grandchildren, Shannon Epperson (Chris), Lori Bryan (Robert), Leah Bethea (Reid), and Patrick Thompson; eight great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Pallbearers will be Reid Bethea, Robert Bryan, Christopher Epperson Sr., Christopher Epperson Jr., Joel Stanley, Kevin Thompson, Ronnie Thompson and Patrick Thompson.  Dr. Chris Sheppard, Dr. Rick Halvorsen, Jimmy Dixon, Dalyn Holdeman, Delwyn Peters and Jan Rachels will serve as honorary pallbearers.

The family would like to express sincerest gratitude to Dr. Chris Sheppard, Care South Home Health and Homestead Hospice, as well as his loving caregivers, Annie Holdeman, Becky Peters, and Connie Peters.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Helping Hands Charitable, 135 Main Street, P.O. Box 337, Tallulah Falls, GA 30573.

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