Florence Thompson

Florence Elizabeth Thompson age 100, of Vestavia, Alabama passed away on Monday, April 24, 2023. She was born on May 29, 1922 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to the late Stanley and Florence Trommer and was fondly known as “Flo” by her family and friends. When Flo was in her early teens she baby sat for Grace Patricia Kelly, formally known as Princess Grace of Monaco.

Flo met her husband Dr. Harvey J. Thompson in Philadelphia, PA while he was in medical school. They married and together they had 2 children, John and Marilyn, 4 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. After raising and educating her children she went back to college and graduated Summa Cum Laude in English from Samford University in Birmingham.

Flo was always active in her community by using her crafting and sewing talents. She designed and decorated for the children’s plays as well as oversaw and organized the programs at Canterbury Methodist Church’s annual bazaar located in Mountain Brook, which supported community services. She was proactive in starting up Canterbury’s ceramic program and very active in vacation bible school overseeing all the activities for the program. Flo was a member of Mountain Brook needlepoint guild where she participated in the United Nations peace rug, needle pointing for the governor’s mansion chairs during the Wallace administration. She also did a tapestry for the Botanical Gardens of Birmingham, a tapestry for the museum of Natural History in Anniston, and a tapestry for the Arlington House, which was later sent to the Botanical Gardens in Chicago.

Flo molded the lives of young girls in leadership with the Girl Scouts of America. She ensured they were equipped in life lesson. She was an active member of the Birmingham Quilters Guild which provides for the community. Flo was also involved in the First Light, which is a haven for abused women and children, Beads of courage for children with cancer, Port protectors for cancer patients, quilts for tornado victims, love mats for joy, which provides for Alzheimer’s, dementia and autistic children. She was actively involved at the Hoover Senior Center and participated twice a month at the HSC in the Sew and Sews community programs.

The family will receive friends on Friday, April 28th at Ridout’s Valley Chapel in Homewood beginning at one o’clock in the afternoon with the funeral service following at two o’clock. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Florence can be made to the Alzheimer's of Central Alabama, P.O. Box 2273, Birmingham, AL 35201.

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