Jim Thompson

Jim Thompson was born on Feb. 22, 1942, to the late Jim Frank Thompson and Clara Crotts Thompson. His father died before he was born, and he had a stepfather, the late Smith Norman. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Frankie Qualls and Sue Smith.
He passed from this life to heaven after a hard-fought battle with cancer on Aug. 12, 2016. He leaves behind his wife of almost fifty years, Mary Beth Shelby Thompson. He spent his life surrounded by females. He had two daughters, Amy Reid and Emily Miracle, and four granddaughters, Bethany Long, Katey Reid, Alena Reid, and Julia Miracle.
He was proud to call Brent Anderson his honorary son, and he loved his son-in-law Brian Reid. He also leaves behind many cousins and close friends.
He worked for 51 years at the Savannah Publishing Company. He began sweeping the floors in high school and ended as the editor of The Courier. The newspaper was not just his job; it was his passion and the place he made many lasting friends that became like family. His family believes it is no coincidence that he died on 5:15 on a Friday as that was the end of his work week. He would be dismayed that his funeral is happening on a Monday as that might disrupt the Tuesday deadline.
Jim was very dedicated to helping his community. He was a member of the Library Board, worked on the 911 Board, and served as a member of the Tennessee Press Association board of directors. He was also a 50-plus year Mason, a member of the Pickwick Shrine Club/Al Chymia Temple, and a member of the Valley of Corinth Scottish Rite.
He was a member of East End United Methodist Church, but he attended Sharon Baptist Church with his family for many years. He enjoyed Southern gospel music and direct preaching.
Jim had many interests. He loved fast cars, especially Corvettes, and he went to many car shows, especially with the Shiloh Area Street Rods. He was an avid Nascar fan. He loved to travel and visited most of the 50 states, driving on backroads whenever possible. He and Beth had many adventures, visiting unusual attractions that were far off the beaten path.
He did not meet a stranger and loved to joke and tease everyone he met. He loved to be outside, working in his yard or cleaning cars. He did not enjoy sitting still and always had a project or a checklist to keep him busy.
Above all, Jim loved God and his family. Although he worked with words most of his life, he did not often verbalize his feelings. Instead, he showed his love with his actions. He always had time to show a little girl a baby bird, and he was always available to fix whatever was broken. His favorite times were when his family was together, whether it was on a beach trip or just gathered in the living room for dinner. He will be greatly missed by many.