Shirley D. Thompson

Shirley Thompson age 80, born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on August 2, 1939 to the late J.C. Runnels and Ruby Lee Runnels, passed away on March 24, 2020. Preceding her in death are her parents, and one brother in law, Wilson Harold “Hal” Knight.

Ms. Thompson is survived by her two sons, David G. (Kathryn) Thompson and Michael G. Thompson; two grandchildren, Harper and Helen Jane Thompson; and sister, Ruby Knight.

Shirley was a great Southern cook, a perfectionist, and enjoyed helping others. She believed in hard work, love, and grace. She tried to do a good deed for someone every day.

She had a forever lasting love for her friends and family and especially loved spending time with her grandchildren. Shirley enjoyed living in different parts of the country including Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia, Michigan, Florida, and North Carolina. She also lived in Panama for a short period.

Besides spending time with her family and traveling, Ms. Thompson loved being a mom to her two boys, playing cards, cooking, and she enjoyed crafts, decorating, antiquing, drawing and painting. She attended a two-year business course at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. She spent many years working as an office manager for a pulmonologist in Brunswick, Georgia, and she served in similar administrative roles for Saturn in Spring Hill and a large construction company working on-site with construction projects in Tennessee, Michigan, and North Carolina.

Shirley was a well-loved mother, grandmother, and sister, and she will be dearly missed.

A private graveside service will be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Attendance at the graveside service is for the family only.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Thistle Farms, Inc., 5122 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN 37209.