Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson

H. Elizabeth Thompson, 102, died Sunday, October 31, 2010 at Brooks Howell Home. Born December 4, 1907 in Madison, Morgan County, GA, she was the daughter of the late William Clinton and Ethel Bryson Thompson. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her devoted brother, Leonard Marbrey Thompson of Danville, VA. Though poor health followed Elizabeth all through her childhood, teenage and young adult years, almost denying her an education, she continued to live with the awareness that God was preparing her for a life to celebrate. Elizabeth always believed that because of the strong, loving teaching and support of her Christian parents she was destined to find a way to serve Christ. In March of 1939, while still a student at Scarritt College, she was consecrated as a Deaconess at Central Methodist Church in Asheville, North Carolina. Her first appointment was as a rural worker to the North Alabama Conference, where she served the little Concord Church, which had such meaning for her later in life. From there she went on to serve in the Louisiana Conference, which consisted of the whole state. Elizabeth helped in many areas, local and national, for 13 years, before returning home to Decatur, GA to continue her work and to care for her mother. After her mother’s death, followed by a short time to restore her own health, Elizabeth continued to serve on many levels as teacher, local church volunteer, church history writer, or wherever needed, until finally retiring to Brooks-Howell Home in Asheville in 2000, where she intended to write her memoirs and more church history. An “episode” shortly after her arrival severely limited her physical abilities and cut short many of her plans. Her papers are housed at the Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville. Even with somewhat limited capabilities, Elizabeth served as an inspiration to all who knew her with her deep abiding faith, candor and courage, and genuine interest in others and ability to impact their lives. She was a woman ahead of her time. She would have celebrated her 103rd birthday on December 4, 2010. She is survived by a niece, Anne Thompson Geyer, of Danville, VA; two nephews, William Charles Thompson, of Lexington, KY and James Leonard Thompson, of Cincinnati, OH; three great-nieces, Elizabeth Turner Dalton and family of Athens, GA; Jane Scott Turner Skehan and family of Lancaster, PA; M. Peyton Turner of Nashville, TN; one great-nephew, James McCorkle Turner, Jr. of Danville, VA and many cousins, other extended family members, and a wealth of friends she held dear. Two services will be held in her memory, one on Friday, December 3 at the Brooks-Howell Home in Asheville, North Carolina at 3 P.M. and the other on Sunday, December 5 at Decatur First United Methodist Church in Decatur, Georgia at 3 P.M. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that contributions be made to: Endowment Trust Fund of the Decatur First United Methodist Church, 300 East Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, GA 30030, Breakthru House, Inc., 1866 Eastfield St., Decatur, GA 30032, Brooks-Howell Home, 266 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, NC 28801, Central United Methodist Church, 27 Church St., Asheville, NC 28801 or The Virginia Davis Laskey Library, Scarritt Bennett Center, 1008 19th Ave. South, Nashville, TN 37212-2126. Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Avenue is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent through the website, www.morrisfamilyfuneralhome.com.

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Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson

December 4, 1907 - October 31, 2010