Mary Thompson's Obituary
Mary DeWitt Thompson, 90, was born in Mount Holly, New Jersey on July 26, 1929. She passed from this life to her eternal home in heaven on November 27, 2019 in Houston, Texas.
Visitation will be held Sunday, December 8 from 4 P.M. to 7 P.M. at the First Baptist Church in Leesville, LA.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, December 9 at 9:00 A.M. at the church with Rev. Craig Forque officiating. Burial will follow in the Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Leesville, LA under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home.
Mary is preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, George C. Thompson; brother, Harold Dewitt and sister, Evangeline Warrick.
Mary is survived by her three children: George Samuel Thompson and wife, Lisa of Baton Rouge, LA, Debra Jean Thomas and husband, Brian of Houston, TX and Steven Craig Thompson and wife, Frances of Louisville, CO; five grandchildren: Phil Howard Thomas II and wife Rocio of Houston, TX, Benjamin Collins Thomas and wife, Taryne of Houston, TX, George Charles Thompson and wife Mari of Baton Rouge, LA, Sarah Marie Thompson of Baton Rouge, LA and Stefany Annaliese Thompson of Louisville, CO; two step-grandchildren: Bridger and Anabelle Elwin of Louisville, CO.
Mary attended kindergarten at Folwell School in Mt. Holly, N.J. She then went to Milton H. Allen School in Medford, N.J. through elementary and Jr. High grades. She graduated from Mt. Holly High School (also called Rancocas Valley Regional High School) where she was a cheerleader for 4 years and lettered in all sports. Next she attended The Kings College in New Castle, Delaware, earning a B.S. degree. Once again she played all sports and was a cheerleader. After spending seven years in Germany, Mary and her family arrived in Leesville, LA in 1965 where they decided to retire near Ft. Polk, LA. She graduated from Northwestern State Univ. receiving a M.Ed. plus 30 and a Specialist degree.
Altogether, Mary taught 33 years in N.J., Germany, Pickering, East Leesville Elementary and finally retiring from West Leesville Elementary, La in 1994.
Mary was an active member of Leesville First Baptist Church where she sang in the choir. She taught Sunday School for years and was director of the 2nd and 3rd grade department at the former First Baptist Church on Fifth Street as well as the new building on Texas Highway. On Sunday evenings, she and her husband taught Training Union for youth for many years. She also was a substitute teacher for her favorite Sarah Sunday School Class. She and her husband enjoyed entertaining widow friends in their home every year. They both believed in community involvement by being members of Vernon Parish Retired Teachers’ Association, Alpha Delta Kappa, and Fidelity Sororities, Rotary, Gideon Auxiliary, AARP, and Chamber of Commerce. She enjoyed leading the singing at the nursing home “Sing-Along” once a month. George and Mary were Grand Marshalls of the Leesville Christmas Parade in 2014 which was an honor for them.
Mary was responsible for the wheelchair path in the woods by the nursing home as well as the “Merry Christmas” banner and the “Leesville Welcomes You” and “God Bless You” signs on HWY 171. While George was in Korea and Vietnam, she supported him and cared for their children.
Being a patriotic citizen, Mary also collected donations for engraved names on monuments and bricks at the Veterans’ Plaza on Leesville Main Street.
For years Mary was a teacher consultant for Weekly Reader Publications representing the southern district. Through that publication, a student from Vernon Parish was selected to go to California for a Presidential Parade with all expenses paid.
Marys’ awards include:
Vernon Parish Elementary Teacher of the Year – 1989
West Leesville Elementary Appreciation – 1994
Community Care Nursing Home Appreciation
Rotary Club District Service Award – 1999-2000
Vernon Parish Volunteer of the Year – 2000
In lieu of flowers, please make your donations to First Baptist Church of Leesville in her memory.
Words of comfort may be expressed to the Thompson Family at www.labbymemorial.com
What’s your fondest memory of Mary?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mary?
Share a story where Mary's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mary you’ll never forget.
How did Mary make you smile?