Mildred Rackley Thompson

The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 10:45 a.m., Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 6952 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC, with the funeral service at 11:00 a.m., followed by the interment in Bush River Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, 5400 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC. Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, Irmo, is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Generations of Irmo Assisted Living, 7142 Woodrow Street, Irmo, SC 29063 and/or St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, PO Box 788, Irmo, SC 29063.

Mildred Annette Mercer Rackley Thompson was born December 5, 1927, in Chadbourn, N.C., daughter of the late James Mercer and Lona Simmons Mercer, the eighth child of nine children. She was a woman of strong faith in God and Jesus Christ and a loving wife, mother, stepmother, step-grandmother, and step-great-grandmother. She loved to see others enjoy her cooking, and consistently shared and gave from the heart. Her working career included raising a son and daughter, homemaker, household Avon sales in the 1960s, fine women’s clothing sales with The Best Shop in Charlotte, N.C., and collections for The Carolina Trader in Ballentine, S.C. She was also primary care giver for her elderly husband.

Mildred was married to Linwood James Rackley for 52 years, June 3 1947 – May 24, 1999. Both were actively involved Charter Members of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Irmo S.C. She was married to Lt. Col. Henry O’Neil Thompson from September 30, 2005 – October 2, 2019, sharing 14 years traveling and living on beautiful Lake Murray, S.C.

Surviving are her daughter, Donna Rackley Cole (Fred), stepdaughters, Patty Thompson Rainwater (Jerry) and Fran Thompson Cass Skoog (Karl), step-grandchildren, Kimberley Cole Stoudemire (Doug) and Ryan Cole (Maria), step-great-grandchildren Bryce Stoudemire Rish (William), Cole Stoudemire, Charles Cole and Lily Cole.

She was preceded in death by her son, Gary Martin Rackley; husband, Linwood James Rackley; siblings, Clara Leonard, Vera Fipps Dawkins, Leola Spivey, Donald Mercer, Hazel Boswell Andrews Dale, Cecil Mercer, Howard Mercer, Edward Mercer; and husband, Henry O’Neil Thompson.

The family extends heartfelt appreciation to Generations of Irmo Assisted Living, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, S.C. Oncology Associates, Main Street Physicians and Five Towers Dentistry for their devoted care and loving friendship.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.