Betty Jo "B.J." Thompson

Mrs. B.J. was born on January 22, 1926, she was one day shy of turning 95 years old.

Mrs. Thompson was a member of Corinth Methodist Church in Winder. She will be remembered by this community as a loving and outgoing lady that loved passing out her molded chocolate candy, enjoyed talking to people which made her never meet a stranger, and telling jokes to anybody that would listen.

Mrs. Thompson was a native of Winder. She is preceded in death by her husband, LtCol, USA, Retired Doyle P. Thompson, and parents, P.W. Williams and Ora Belle Williams.

Mrs. Thompson is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Danny) Wilson of Jefferson; sons, Dana Beckmann and David (Patricia) Beckman both of Winder; four grandchildren, Christina (Gregory) Guldensupp, Spencer Beckman, Denyce Wilson, and Dan Wilson; seven great-grandchildren, Victoria Holland, Caleb Dowell, Lisa Williams, Nikki Williams, Clint Beckman, Cheyenne Beckman, and Kimberly Beckman; and three great-great-granddaughters.

A graveside service to honor and celebrate the life of Mrs. B.J. Thompson will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at Barrow Memorial Gardens in Winder. Reverend Jennifer Carey will officiate. Burial will follow the service. Due to the safety and health concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic, the family has asks attendees to please remain in their vehicle during the service. No visitation will be held. The service will be livestreamed though the Smith Funeral Home Facebook page.

The family request that anybody who has tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to anybody with COVID-19 within the past 30 days to please refrain from attending the service.

A special thanks would like to be offered to Gateway Gardens and Inspiring Hospice for the genuine and heartfelt care that they gave to B.J. during her last few months.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Mrs. B.J. Thompson to the Corinth Methodist Church at 689 Corinth Church Road Winder, GA 30680.

Smith Funeral Home, Winder, is entrusted with the arrangements.

B.J. leaves you with this poem entitled "Their Heritage"

I hope to leave a heritage...

To my dear children three...

A heritage of faith and trust...

...And love and loyalty...

A heritage of faith in God...

And trust in other souls...

Of love for all, and loyalty...

To all our country's goals...

I pray that they will have the strength...

And courage to go on...

However dark and long the night...

However dim the dawn...

This is the only heritage...

Of which I am concerned...

That they may grow and profit by...

The lessons I have learned...

Then if I die in poverty...

And leave them not a cent...

I still will feel my time on earth...

Was well and richly spent.