William Lee Thompson

William Lee Thompson, resident of the Somerville Community, husband of the late Birtie Thompson and one of Fayette County’s oldest citizens died Friday evening, July 20, 2012 at the Methodist Fayette Hospital in Somerville where he had been a patient for seven days. He was 102 years of age and died following a brief illness.

Services of Remembrance with Military Honors for Mr. Thompson were conducted at 11 A.M. Monday, July 23rd at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church in the District 15 Community with Bro. Carl Doyle, a family friend of Oakland, officiating. Interment followed in the Mt. Olive Cemetery. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center — Main Chapel of Somerville.

Mr. Thompson was born May 20, 1910 in Tippah County, Mississippi. He was preceded in death by his parents, Andy Thompson and Mary Marrow Thompson. He moved at an early age with his family to Fayette County and received his education in the Fayette County Public School System. He was married in 1934 to the former Birtie Kee of Fayette County, who preceded him in death in 1988. Mr. Thompson served in the United States Navy during the World War II period and was a farmer in Fayette County for most of his life.

He was a member of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church and was associated for many years in the Emergency Operations of Fayette County  that included the Fayette County Rescue Squad, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and the Fayette County Fire Department. Mr. Thompson will be remembered for his love of fishing and his kind, gentle mannerisms. He was a family-oriented person and had resided for several years with a daughter in Jackson, Tennessee before her recent death.

Mr. Thompson is survived by two daughters, Bobbie Graham (Larry) of Somerville, Peggy Cullins (Odis) of Pine Bluff, AR; four sons, James Thompson (Gail) of Somerville, Elmer Thompson (Pat) of Somerville, Tommy Thompson (Dell) of Somerville, Timmy Thompson (Girlene) of Moscow, a son-in-law, Jim Argo of Jackson, TN that Mr. Thompson considered as his son; his sister, Nancy Kee of Somerville; two brothers, Alfred Thompson of Hornsby, Wilmer Thompson of Oakland; 28 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren and a large number of great great grandchildren.

Mr. Thompson was preceded in death by two daughters, Ann Grooms, Diane Argo; and three sons, James Lester Thompson, Raferd Thompson and John Thompson.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were the Members of the Oakland Fire Department.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 9580 Jernigan Drive, Somerville, TN 38068 or the Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery Association, c/o Emily Joyce Douglas, 514 Oak Street, Somerville, TN 38068.