Sara Laverne Garrett Thompson

Sara was born at home in the farming community of Mitcheville, Tennessee on January 16, 1926. She was the daughter of Harris Jefferson and Minnie Canida Garrett. After graduation from high school, Sara moved to Nashville and attended Vanderbilt University for two years before moving back to Mitcheville to marry her fiance, Noah Barlow Thompson, Jr., March 8, 1945. They were married 58 years when he passed away in 2003. Noah and Sara had two sons while she continued her education, graduating from Western Kentucky University with a Masters degree in Education and teaching biology, chemistry and physics at Portland High School, Portland, TN.

Sara and Junior moved to Naples, FL in 1968 where she taught math at Naples High School for 23 years. She loved being a teacher as evidenced by her former students who remember her fondly. She was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed making quilts and some of her clothes. Sara loved the Lord, read her Bible faithfully three times a day even in her last days and missed being able to attend church when she was no longer physically able.

Sara leaves behind to cherish her memory her sons, Michael Dean Thompson (Linda Crews Thompson) of Naples, FL, Anthony Garrett Thompson (Judith Durig Thompson) of Portland, TN, grandchildren Michael Dean "Dino" Thompson, II, Naples, FL, Kathryn Marie "Katie" Thompson, Naples, FL, Todd Garrett Thompson (Amber Hallum Thompson), Lebanon, TN, great-granddaughters Emmie, Julia and Oakley Thompson, Lebanon, TN, sister-in-law Mary Ann "Monie" Garrett, Mitcheville, TN and her Garrett nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband Noah B. Thompson, Jr., brother Kenneth Dean Garrett, sister-in-law Jewel Thompson Carpenter, and great nephews Andrew and Michael Garrett.

Services will be Tuesday, September 17 at 2:00 PM. Visitation will be prior to her service at 1:30 PM at Wilkinson & Wiseman Funeral Home in Portland, TN.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Sara's memory may be made to Avow Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 34105.