Laura Jean Thigpen

Laura ‘Jean’ Hammond Thigpen ended her struggle and went home to the Lord February 22, 2017. She was born in Lauderdale county April 7th 1927. She was number 10 of 11 children born to Steward and Della Hammond. Jean grew up on a farm and was a life-long gardener and shared her vegetables freely with her family and friends. She graduated from Lexington High School and went to work at Singer Sewing Center in Florence AL. While living in Florence she met John Thigpen and they married Christmas day 1950 and enjoyed 63 years together until his death in 2014.John and Jean moved to South Bend IN and lived there almost 50 years. While there they had two daughters Pamela and Patricia. Jean worked as a salesperson for Lane Bryant and a preschool teacher. After their retirement they moved back to Alabama to be closer to their two grandchildren Bryan Lee and Bethany who they adored and she was the best ‘Memaw’ ever! She enjoyed gardening, sewing, cooking, and playing cards on Friday night at ‘XYZ’. She loved God, her family and her brothers and sisters at Riverchase Church of Christ. Her smile and joyful attitude will be missed by all that were blessed to know her. She is survived by her daughters Pamela Collins of Vernon Hills IL and Patricia Parker (Bryan) of Indian Springs AL and her two grandchildren, Bryan Lee and Bethany Parker. She also has a step- granddaughter Kelley Hickey (AZ) and step-great grandson Ethan Hickey (CO). She was the last surviving sibling of her family but is also survived by many nieces, nephews, adopted children and grandchildren. She is rejoicing in Heaven with Papa.

A celebration of life will be held at 3pm on Saturday, February 25, 2017 at Riverchase Church of Christ with visitation one hour prior. A committal service will be at Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo on Monday, February 27, 2017 at 9:30am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in her name to either Rainbow Omega,(100 Hope Dr., Eastaboga AL 36260) or Insight International Braille Outreach Worldwide, (Glynn Langston, P.O. Box 730, Carencro LA 70520.)