Loretta R. Thompson

Loretta was born on September 13, 1938, in Port Arthur, to the late David Hardy Rawlinson and Ruby Mary Provost Rawlinson. She was the younger of two children, Jean Alvin Rawlinson and Loretta Rawlinson. Her brother, Jean, was the quarterback of the Thomas Jefferson High School football team and often brought his football player friends home. He always said that his sister was so tough that she could kick any of their behinds if they messed with her. They gave her the nickname of a famous boxer known as Cocomo which she was often called throughout her life.

Loretta was an honor student at Thomas Jefferson High School, sang in the glee club and marched with the drill team known as the Red Hussars. She marched 120 steps a minute while playing the cymbals for the T.J.H.S. halftime shows.

Loretta was a loving wife, mother, Grammy, Great Grammy, aunt and friend. She had a nurturing, caring and compassionate spirit which was evident in the time and energy she gave to raising her children, Lori, Julie and Christie. She made sure she woke us up each morning with a hot cup of coffee in bed then a warm breakfast. She was always the homeroom mom for each of us and planned the most wonderful class parties. She was an extraordinary seamstress which meant that our clothes were expertly crafted and the envy of all our friends. She taught her children to love Christ Jesus and serve Him always, to work hard in life, to be honest and true, to treat everyone with dignity and respect and to always remember to give God all the glory for our blessings.

After her children were grown, Loretta worked at Walmart for a decade as a checker. She was known for her positive and uplifting personality and for her amazing chicken and dumplings that she regularly made for the staff to enjoy. When she saw a family come through her line that was in need, she would pay for their items out of her own purse. She made Walmart her own private mission field for doing Christ’s work in her own humble and quiet way. Everyone loved her!

Loretta was a faithful and loyal servant to her Lord Jesus Christ. She volunteered hours and hours at her church organizing clothing and food drives, bringing Holy Communion to shut-ins, visiting the elderly at care facilities and sponsoring the youth for the Methodist Youth Fellowship group.

In 2008, Loretta survived five simultaneous hemorrhagic strokes which left her paralyzed on her right side. With God’s healing and more self-determination than anyone had ever seen, she fought back and regained all functions of her right side. Because of her will to live and strength of character, she was able to make several trips to Michigan, met her first great grand child, Clara, and blessed more people with her love than can be counted.

Loretta was a constant source of joy, love and grace, and anyone who met her was made to feel special, valued and important. She never complained about anything and praised God for all her blessings each day. She decided early on after her dementia diagnosis that she would laugh through whatever would come and wanted others to laugh along with her. She fulfilled this in her life. She found great joy in the perfection of butterflies, roses, songbirds, little babies and sunrises. We all found perfection in her smile.

Loretta is preceded in death by her parents, David Hardy Rawlinson and Ruby Mary Provost Rawlinson; her brother, Jean Alvin Rawlinson; her husband, Jerry Lynn Thompson; and her daughter, Lori Lynette Broussard.

Those left to cherish Loretta’s memory are her daughter, Julie Jean Avery and her husband, Thomas, of Grand Blanc, MI and her daughter, Christie Spears and her fiancee’, Blake Whisenhunt of Groves; grandchildren, Kaelyn Sweet and her husband, Nathan, Chloe Franklin and Jayden Franklin; and five great grand children, Clara, Abigail, Addison, Lincoln and Gideon. Along with family members who will miss her are included long time neighbors, friends, nieces and nephews and her beloved sister-in-law/best friend, Janelle Colville.

We will be eternally grateful to her for being a constant example of a real hero with her strength, courage, fighting spirit and grace.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hillfh.com for the Thompson family.