- Date Of Birth: May 1, 1916
- Date Of Death: June 29, 2016
- State: Florida
Elsie Jane Thompson, 100, of Tallahassee, peacefully passed away Wednesday, June 29, 2016. She was born May 1, 1916, in Cumming, Georgia, to the late Robert Ezra and Arizona Phillips Thomas. She was a dedicated homemaker and a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Elsie was a kind and generous woman who made friends wherever she went. Raised on a family farm in rural Georgia, Elsie remembered the days of horse drawn buggies. Elsie met her late husband, Bob, after a tragic set of tornadoes devastated his family’s home in Gainesville, GA. His family rented a set of rooms from her parents’ home and the two instantly hit it off. Shortly after marriage, Bob was shipped to England for three years to serve in WWII. Upon his return from the war, they settled in Atlanta and started a family, until he was transferred to Macon, GA, with his company, Western Union. Later, they again transferred to Orlando, then Miami. In Miami, Elsie served as a dorm mother at a small women’s college. They retired in North Georgia then moved to Tallahassee in order to be closer to family. Once in Tallahassee, she reveled in doting on her grandchildren. She also volunteered countless hours reading from the Bible, at the convalescent home, while caring for her husband, who lived there for 10 years. Elsie had an oratory gift. She could tell a story about her own personal history so vividly that her listener would remain captivated for hours. Her unwavering memory and attention to detail made her an expert seamstress. She took pride in being a meticulous housekeeper and a fantastic cook, where her specialty was southern food. Elsie took joy in serving others, especially through her church. She was an active member of the Morningside Baptist Church community, where she served on the board and for many years as a Silver Saint. Elsie collected antiques, cookbooks, cards, and plates. Aside from being a genteel southern lady through and through, Elsie had a lot of grit and took pride in her independence. She cooked and cleaned for her family at the age of 8, when her mother was ill for several months. Elsie worked in a parachute factory during the war effort. She took care of the “man’s” and the “woman’s” duties while her husband frequently travelled for work. Although her father felt it wasn’t necessary for a woman to get a high school education, she obtained her GED in her 50’s because she knew she could do it. Elsie drove until she was 80, cared for an infant great-grandchild at 86, and took pride in living by herself until she was 98. She was proud to be a centenarian, reaching her goal to live 100 years. Elsie was preceded in death by her parents; her 4 brothers; her husband, Robert Thompson; her son, Carl Thompson; and her grandson, Andrew Thompson. She is survived by her son, Robert Stephen Thompson (Judith) of Tallahassee, FL; granddaughter, Morgan Grah, of Lexington Park, MD; her great-grandchildren, Aurora Baucum of Tallahassee, FL, William Grah of Lexington Park, MD, and Haley Grah of Lexington Park, MD; countless friends who she adored and a number of very close friends she considered family. Elsie lived a full 100 years and positively impacted so many people during her time here on Earth. She will be greatly missed.
