Edna Thompson

Edna Ruth Morris Thompson was born September 28, 1924 in Ragland, Al to Alma Walker and Joseph Daniel Morris and transitioned to her heavenly father June 1, 2018 after overcoming and battling numerous serious illnesses for years, which includes a few years in hospice, at the age of 93 ¾. Her family moved to Thomasville, Al then to Springville, Al for lifetime on family acreage. Edna was considered a pretty woman and her mother told of the time Gypsies almost got her. Edna graduated Springville H.S. in early 1940s and from Ida B. Moffett School of Nursing in mid 1940s and subsequently qualified for Registered Nurse Certification. She met her husband Frank Russell Thompson Jr., just up the street from the school dorm at Western Supermarket on Highland Ave. S. She was introduced by Al K. Hall and double dated with “Gus” Koutroulakis of Pete’s Famous Hot Dogs and subsequently married Frank May 31, 1947 at 35th Ave Baptist Church. They resided in North Birmingham, Crestwood and finally Vestavia. Edna was also an excellent homemaker, took part in school, church activities and those related to her husband’s golf and bowling events. They enjoyed guest in the Vestavia home. She is preceded in death by infant siblings J. W., Robbie Lee and toddler L. W. Dickie and survived by a younger sister Stella Margaret Chandler, Virginia Beach, Va. and nieces Sandra and Judy, and nephews Danny and Dennis. Also survived by nephew and niece Russell and Debbie in Merritt Island, FL. She is also preceded in death by her husband Frank and her youngest son Richard Thompson. She is survived by her older son and longtime primary caretaker, Roger Thompson. Also she is survived by Richard’s son, Richard and daughter Lauren and their children. Edna was very loving and had a strong personality. When the shift supervisor at Baptist Montclair Hospital she was nicknamed “ET”, which actually is her initials, by her younger RN coworker Ann Sims Holder due to Edna’s traits including strict charting rules, work ethic and her eyes. She retired from Baptist Medical Center Montclair. Edna really liked Doris Day, Dale Evans and Liz Taylor in the day. Edna and Frank had a host of fantastic good friends though the years in North Birmingham, Crestwood and the Sagewood-Sagebrook neighborhood in Vestavia. They were church members at North Birmingham Baptist and 35th Ave Baptist in North Birmingham, Woodlawn Baptist then Lakeside Church in Vestavia. Edna was raised a Methodist but joined the Baptist faith after marriage. Frank was a Deacon at 35th Ave Baptist. Edna’s son Roger was her primary caretaker for about 15 yrs. She enjoyed a caretaker in her presence 24 hours a day for 10 yrs including about 3 yrs in a hospice situation after becoming bedridden. Roger was able to assemble some fantastic and loving females to provide care and companionship for Edna including the last 3-5 yrs; Jill, Nicole and Pearlie. Before that there was Z, Ruth and Melissa. All these women were angels sent from Heaven is all that can be said. Edna told these people and her son that she “loves them little and loves them big and loves them like a little pig.” And she told them she “loves them forever and ever and ever!” During the last years she sang “Jesus Loves Me” and similar renditions. She expressed a strong desire to see her Mama and Papa. She called her son Roger “Papa” on many occasions. She loved Bluebell Ice-cream with fresh strawberries and breakfast most of all with a lot of Sweet Italian Cream in her coffee. She loved Lawrence Welk, Classic Gospel Hour, Gardendale 1st Baptist, Hoda and Kathy Lee, Gunsmoke and Andy Griffith Show on the TV. Many special thanks to Southern Care and the very skilled, dutiful, affable and comforting RN Ron Parker and on occasion other RNs, Nurse Practitioner Chad, social worker Kathleen and other staff. More special thanks to dutiful Chaplin Brother Ron, Brother Sam, and the Homebound Unit of Lakeside Baptist Church including Jerome Billings, his wife and others. Also special thanks to Roy Green Jr. for visiting and calling every Sunday. Further thanks to many neighbors in the Sagewood sub division community and others that visited and called. Lastly, thanks to Eddie Oswalt and Ann Sims Holder for transporting son Roger pursuant to his hip replacement and oral surgeries during critical caretaking times. Edna’s son Roger loves his mother infinitely. Death and suffering be not proud but rather is the most vile. A visitation for Edna will be held Wednesday June 6, 2018 at Jefferson Memorial in Trussville, Al from 11am- 12pm. Her celebration of life will follow at 12pm in the chapel at Jefferson Memorial.