Clara Thompson

Clara Thompson Tupelo Clara Crawford Johnson Thompson passed away October 18, 2013 at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo, MS. Clara was born September 4, 1926 to Georgia Mae Payne and Mangum Crawford in Greensboro, Alabama. A member of First United Methodist Church in Tupelo, she served as Secretary/Treasurer and President of the UMW, Circle Chairman for her UMW Circle, song leader and President of the Belle Bennett Sunday School Class and Chancel Choir Member. She met her future husband, Adrian, in church. Until her health failed, they were very active and present in church activities "every time the doors were open." Clara was a member of Fortnightly Musicale and served as telephone chairperson. Adrian and Clara traveled for many years with the Wally Byum Airstream Club. She was a hospital volunteer with Mended Hearts, serving as visitation chairman. Her goal was to visit all heart patients before their discharge. She delighted in giving patients her own testimony of surviving her own quadruple bypass in 1986. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Adrian Thompson, daughters Sheila Sellers (Buddy) of Lucedale, Lynette Bolen of Saltillo, Carean Dendy (Butch) of Belden, sons Tommy Thompson (Margaret) of Tupelo, Cecil Thompson of Harmontown, and a son-in-law, Jim Martin, of Cordova TN. She has one surviving brother, Billy Crawford (Billie) of Palm City, FL. Clara and Adrian were blessed with 14 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Clara was fortunate enough to have had two good and loving husbands. She was married for 23 years to Vernon Johnson, the father of Sheila and Gloria. Also, gone before her are her parents,; brothers, Payne, Henry and Bobby Crawford; sister, Sue Stewart; son, Sam Thompson, daughter Gloria Martin and one great grandchild, Mary Brooks Murphy. Pallbearers will be her grandsons and grandsons-in-law, Scott Rogers, Dustin Thompson, Zach Thompson, Patton Thompson, Jamie Martin, Levi Dendy, Steve Winesett, Dr Jimmy Murphy, Ken Moore, and Wes McAlexander and Cass Phipps. We offer our gratitude to Clara's special care-givers, Susan McCarty, Lauren Babb, Clara Peete, Debra Webb and the Staff of Sanctuary Hospice House. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church in Tupelo, 412 E Main, Monday, October 21, at 11:00 with Reverend Jim Curtis officiating. Visitation will follow in Wesley Hall until 1:30. Private family burial will be at Tupelo Memorial Park. The family asks that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 854, Tupelo, MS 38802 and to Sanctuary Hospice House, 5159 W Main St, Tupelo, MS 38801.