BESSIE PEARL WHITE THOMPSON

BESSIE PEARL WHITE THOMPSON, longtime resident of Fayette County and wife of the late Elmer Thompson, died at 2:51 A.M. Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at her Moscow residence on Price Road. She was 99 years of age.

Funeral services for Mrs. Thompson were conducted at 1 P.M. Friday, September 19th at the Peebles Main Funeral Chapel in Somerville with Dr. Kenneth Culver, Pastor of the Warren Community Church, officiating. Interment followed in the Mt. Olive Cemetery of the District 15 Community. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-Main Chapel of Somerville.

Mrs. Thompson was born in Alcorn County, Mississippi, on October 16, 1908, the daughter of the late Jim White and the late Ellen Mayo White. She moved at an early age with her family to Fayette County and attended area schools. One of the oldest residents of the Somerville area, Mrs. Thompson had resided in Fayette County for 83 years. She was married in 1925 to Elmer Thompson of Fayette County, her husband of 75 years, who died October 1, 2000.

Affectionately known by family and friends as "Mama Pearl", Mrs. Thompson remained active throughout her life until her recent illness. She was a member of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church in District 15 and was a homemaker her entire life. She enjoyed quilting and special times with her large family and friends.

Survivors of Mrs. Thompson include a son, Albert "J. T." Thompson of Somerville; a sister, Lucy Stanford of Ripley, MS; eleven grandchildren including her granddaughter and caregiver Pamela Johnson with whom she resided; eighteen great-grandchildren, eleven great-great-grandchildren and one great-great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Elmer Ruth McNabb; a son, L. T. Thompson; six sisters: Millie McElroy, Hester Kee, Dolly Anthony, Lillie Thompson and Liddy Jarmon; two brothers, J. D. White and Arlis White and a great-grandson, Elmer Allen.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Corey Holley, Jason Steward, Dylan Thompson, Ethan Thompson, Matt Thompson and Tyler Thompson.

Honorary casketbearers were Ronald Markle, Jerry McNabb, Colby Shelby, Cole Spicer and Wilmer Thompson.

The family request that Memorials be directed to the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 9580 Jernigan Drive, Somerville, TN 38068, Phone: (901) 465-6053 or to the Mt. Olive Cemetery Association, C/O Emily Joyce Douglas, Secretary-Treasurer, 514 Oak Street, Somerville, TN 38068.