Our loving Mother, Willie Mae Thompson, passed away at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 5th, 1994 in Shand's Hospital, Gainsville, Florida. She was a loving mother, aunt, sister, grandmother, mentor, and friend to so many.
She was born on October 15th, 1922 in Palatka, Florida, the daughter of David Jackson Sr. and Rachel Thompson Jackson. The family moved to Gifford, just outside of Vero Beach, Florida when she was very young and where Willie was raised and educated. She graduated from Gifford High School in 1940 and shortly after her graduation, she moved to Miami, Florida.
Wanting to see more of the country, Willie moved to Brownsville, in Brooklyn, New York, and lived there for a time. Then, she moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and it was there that she met our father, Edward (Buddy) Lee Thompson II while he was pitching in the Negro Leagues Baseball. On December 24th, 1949 they moved to Chicago, Illinois, and were married and had three children, Brenda Joyce, Brian Jeffery, and Edward Lee III.
In 1959, our family moved to Galesburg, Illinois where our father was the head chef at Jimmy Foxx's Steakhouse, the former pro baseball player who knew our father. Our father eventually was head chef at the former Harbor Lights and other places. Meanwhile, Willie after successful training and certification got hired at the Galesburg Research Hospital where she worked for 20 years. She also worked at the Carver Community Center.
Mom was a wonderful mother to us and always worked hard through her positive influence to bring out the best in us in everything we do. She would say to us, "See the world and everything it has to offer." She was the leader and matriarch of not only our family but also of our father's family, whom they all loved and deeply respected.
Willie was the middle of nine children including five brothers; George Jackson, Albert Jackson, Peter Jackson, Edward Jackson; three sisters, Geneva Dixon, Rachel Pinkney, and Carolyn Franklin. All are deceased along with our loving brother, Edward Lee III who passed away on October 27th, 2021.
Our mother, brother, and father are still very much with us in spirit and are deeply missed by all. Mother was a Sweet, Sweet Spirit.
Source: Brian J. Thompson, I
She was born on October 15th, 1922 in Palatka, Florida, the daughter of David Jackson Sr. and Rachel Thompson Jackson. The family moved to Gifford, just outside of Vero Beach, Florida when she was very young and where Willie was raised and educated. She graduated from Gifford High School in 1940 and shortly after her graduation, she moved to Miami, Florida.
Wanting to see more of the country, Willie moved to Brownsville, in Brooklyn, New York, and lived there for a time. Then, she moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and it was there that she met our father, Edward (Buddy) Lee Thompson II while he was pitching in the Negro Leagues Baseball. On December 24th, 1949 they moved to Chicago, Illinois, and were married and had three children, Brenda Joyce, Brian Jeffery, and Edward Lee III.
In 1959, our family moved to Galesburg, Illinois where our father was the head chef at Jimmy Foxx's Steakhouse, the former pro baseball player who knew our father. Our father eventually was head chef at the former Harbor Lights and other places. Meanwhile, Willie after successful training and certification got hired at the Galesburg Research Hospital where she worked for 20 years. She also worked at the Carver Community Center.
Mom was a wonderful mother to us and always worked hard through her positive influence to bring out the best in us in everything we do. She would say to us, "See the world and everything it has to offer." She was the leader and matriarch of not only our family but also of our father's family, whom they all loved and deeply respected.
Willie was the middle of nine children including five brothers; George Jackson, Albert Jackson, Peter Jackson, Edward Jackson; three sisters, Geneva Dixon, Rachel Pinkney, and Carolyn Franklin. All are deceased along with our loving brother, Edward Lee III who passed away on October 27th, 2021.
Our mother, brother, and father are still very much with us in spirit and are deeply missed by all. Mother was a Sweet, Sweet Spirit.
Source: Brian J. Thompson, I
Our loving Mother, Willie Mae Thompson, passed away at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 5th, 1994 in Shand's Hospital, Gainsville, Florida. She was a loving mother, aunt, sister, grandmother, mentor, and friend to so many.
She was born on October 15th, 1922 in Palatka, Florida, the daughter of David Jackson Sr. and Rachel Thompson Jackson. The family moved to Gifford, just outside of Vero Beach, Florida when she was very young and where Willie was raised and educated. She graduated from Gifford High School in 1940 and shortly after her graduation, she moved to Miami, Florida.
Wanting to see more of the country, Willie moved to Brownsville, in Brooklyn, New York, and lived there for a time. Then, she moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and it was there that she met our father, Edward (Buddy) Lee Thompson II while he was pitching in the Negro Leagues Baseball. On December 24th, 1949 they moved to Chicago, Illinois, and were married and had three children, Brenda Joyce, Brian Jeffery, and Edward Lee III.
In 1959, our family moved to Galesburg, Illinois where our father was the head chef at Jimmy Foxx's Steakhouse, the former pro baseball player who knew our father. Our father eventually was head chef at the former Harbor Lights and other places. Meanwhile, Willie after successful training and certification got hired at the Galesburg Research Hospital where she worked for 20 years. She also worked at the Carver Community Center.
Mom was a wonderful mother to us and always worked hard through her positive influence to bring out the best in us in everything we do. She would say to us, "See the world and everything it has to offer." She was the leader and matriarch of not only our family but also of our father's family, whom they all loved and deeply respected.
Willie was the middle of nine children including five brothers; George Jackson, Albert Jackson, Peter Jackson, Edward Jackson; three sisters, Geneva Dixon, Rachel Pinkney, and Carolyn Franklin. All are deceased along with our loving brother, Edward Lee III who passed away on October 27th, 2021.
Our mother, brother, and father are still very much with us in spirit and are deeply missed by all. Mother was a Sweet, Sweet Spirit.
Source: Brian J. Thompson, I
She was born on October 15th, 1922 in Palatka, Florida, the daughter of David Jackson Sr. and Rachel Thompson Jackson. The family moved to Gifford, just outside of Vero Beach, Florida when she was very young and where Willie was raised and educated. She graduated from Gifford High School in 1940 and shortly after her graduation, she moved to Miami, Florida.
Wanting to see more of the country, Willie moved to Brownsville, in Brooklyn, New York, and lived there for a time. Then, she moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and it was there that she met our father, Edward (Buddy) Lee Thompson II while he was pitching in the Negro Leagues Baseball. On December 24th, 1949 they moved to Chicago, Illinois, and were married and had three children, Brenda Joyce, Brian Jeffery, and Edward Lee III.
In 1959, our family moved to Galesburg, Illinois where our father was the head chef at Jimmy Foxx's Steakhouse, the former pro baseball player who knew our father. Our father eventually was head chef at the former Harbor Lights and other places. Meanwhile, Willie after successful training and certification got hired at the Galesburg Research Hospital where she worked for 20 years. She also worked at the Carver Community Center.
Mom was a wonderful mother to us and always worked hard through her positive influence to bring out the best in us in everything we do. She would say to us, "See the world and everything it has to offer." She was the leader and matriarch of not only our family but also of our father's family, whom they all loved and deeply respected.
Willie was the middle of nine children including five brothers; George Jackson, Albert Jackson, Peter Jackson, Edward Jackson; three sisters, Geneva Dixon, Rachel Pinkney, and Carolyn Franklin. All are deceased along with our loving brother, Edward Lee III who passed away on October 27th, 2021.
Our mother, brother, and father are still very much with us in spirit and are deeply missed by all. Mother was a Sweet, Sweet Spirit.
Source: Brian J. Thompson, I
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