Gretchen M. Thompson

Gretchen Mingledorff Thompson, 88 of Atlanta, GA passed away peacefully on March 24, 2016 with her family by her side. Gretchen was born January 24, 1928 just north of Savannah, Georgia in Effingham County. She spent her entire childhood in the small town of Springfield, GA where she graduated high school in 1945 as the Valedictorian. She then attended The University of Georgia and graduated in 1949, cum laude as a Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in Journalism. She then worked for the Georgia State Department of Education until 1955 and transitioned herself to the Social Security Administration until 1958. Gretchen left the work force to raise her four kids for the next 13 years. In 1971 she began to substitute teach for the DeKalb County School System and from 1976-1992 she worked as the Director of Public Relations for the Georgia Association of Realtors. She was married to James Allen Thompson of Darien Georgia for 56 years. She was a member of Briarcliff United Methodist Church, Callanwolde Guild and enjoyed volunteer work at the Fine Arts Center. Gretchen’s primary love was for her children and grandchildren followed closely by the eight dogs she had the pleasure of owning throughout her life. Gretchen is survived by her four children, Mary Anne (Phil) Cauthen, Gretchen (Craig) Anderson, Michael (Ann) Thompson, Hansel Thompson and her loving grandchildren; Anna Cauthen, Emily Cauthen, Caroline Anderson, Will Thompson, Katie Thompson, Jimmy Thompson, Alexandra Thompson, and her brother Ernest B. Mingledorff.

Funeral Service will be held at Roswell Funeral Home on Monday March 28th at 11:30am. Internment will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery directly behind Roswell Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday at 10:00am until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers the family requests any contribution be made to Camp Sunshine, 1850 Clairmont Rd., Decatur, GA 30033 or Cure Childhood Cancer, 1117 Perimeter Center West #402, Atlanta, GA 30338. Any contributions made are in Gretchen’s loving memory of Ashley Anderson, her granddaughter, who preceded her in death.