Wilmington – Annie Lee (Ann) Thompson, 97, of Wilmington, N.C., passed away November 25, 2022 at Lower Cape Fear Life Care. She was born September 2, 1925 to the late Benjamin Ira and Ella Little Housand in Loris, South Carolina. Ann was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband of 51 years Daniel Floyd (Tommy) Thompson, Sr.; her first born child, who died after complications at childbirth; four brothers; her sister Nina Housand Byrnes; her niece Patty Coleman Kerr, and her granddaughter Blaire Godwin Thompson.
She is survived by her sons Benny Keith Thompson (Linda Gordon) and Daniel Floyd Thompson, Junior (Debbie); her daughter Agnes Kay Gentry (Micky); grandson Benjamin Keith Thompson (Becky); great-grandsons Noah Benjamin Thompson and McCoy Werner Thompson. Also, Ann wanted to acknowledge Rachel Godwin Thompson; and Dan, Jenny and Quinn Ryan for their important roles in her life.
Ann graduated from Loris High School, where she was a proud member of the BETA CLUB. During World War II, she moved to Wilmington to live with her sister and brother in law. She took a course in welding and began work at the shipyard building Liberty Ships. There she met another welder, Tommy Thompson. They fell in love and were married in Conway, S.C., on June 23, 1945. Soon after, Tommy and Ann began operating Thompson’s ESSO Service Center in Wilmington (later Thompson’s Exxon). Tommy fixed automobiles and Ann did the bookkeeping; later she stayed at home with their three children. After Tommy retired, Ann and he enjoyed visits from their grandchildren. Ann would teach Blaire to cook; while Tommy taught Ben to fix automobiles and fish.
Ann was an active member of Winter Park Baptist Church for 63 years. She loved attending Sunday school and Worship Service on Sunday. Then Lunch and Learn on Tuesday. She loved the Lord and thought the best way to convey her belief was through laughter even into her nineties she performed in skits at church and told jokes at local nursing homes. At ninety seven, she still drove a car. Forty-Five years ago, she helped start a birthday breakfast club which still meets each month.
Ann wanted to extend a special thanks to ministers Cliff Harris, Mark Teachey, and Mike Womble for their part in making her Winter Park Baptist Church experience so precious. They enjoyed and enabled her sense of humor for many years. She also sends a thank you to every member of the Church for their part in making her feel so loved there.
Ann never met anyone not worthy of hours and hours of her conversation. She did love to talk; but, also, she was a compassionate listener and a good friend to all who knew her. Her goal on earth was to dislike no one and have no one dislike her. She was kind to everyone who crossed her path.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Winter Park Baptist Church on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 1:30pm. Family will be available at 1:00pm in the Church Sanctuary. A private Graveside service will be held for family at a later date.
A lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Lower Cape Fear Life Care, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, N.C., 28401.
Share online condolences with family at www.Coblegreenlawn.com.
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