The Rev. Dr. James Henry Thompson, age 82, of Taylors, SC went to meet his Lord and Savior on Monday morning, May 30, 2011.
He was married to the late Joanne Upton Thompson for 56 years. He was preceded in death by his parents Esther Wood Thompson and Lawrence Edwin Thompson and a sister, Betty T. Glenn.
"Jimmy" as he preferred to be called was the founder of WGGS TV-16 in Greenville, SC, and WATC TV- 57 in Atlanta, GA, Faith Printing Co. in Taylors, SC, and Faith Temple Church in Taylors, SC, where he pastored for 30 years. He was a graduate of Holmes Bible College and Furman University.
He was a humble man who loved and always treated everyone with kindness. He was not a respecter of persons and loved to visit the sick and elderly as long as his health permitted.
Jimmy loved to reminiscence about growing up on a dairy farm and he and his dad delivering milk to folks in Taylors and the Greenville area.
He hosted Niteline for 35 years and was well known throughout this area.
Rev. Thompson received many awards through the years and one of his favorites was when a portion of Hwy. 253 was named Rev. James H. Thompson Road. He was honored with the 2009 Honorary Life membership Award by the South Carolina Broadcasters Association and most recently received the Order of the Palmetto which is the highest civilian honor given by the State of South Carolina.
He is survived by three sons Vincent (Betty), Duane (Christina) and Dante Thompson (Katie). He is survived by two sisters, Nell T. Adams Montgomery (William) and Judy T. Cody (William); one brother, William "Tommy" Thompson (Jeanette); two granddaughters, Riley and Hannah; one grandson Shane Thompson (Nikita); one great granddaughter Bristol; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be in the chapel of WGGS TV 6-8 p. m. Wednesday, June 1, 2011, and the funeral will be held at Faith Temple Church on 3 p. m. Thursday, June 2, 2011.
Burial will be in the cemetery at Faith Temple Church.
Donations may be made to Dove Broadcasting, Inc., P.O. Box 1616, Greenville, SC 29602.
The family is at the home of a son, Dante Thompson, 317 Magnolia Meadows Lane, Taylors, SC 29687.
Online condolences may be made at www.thewoodmortuary.com
Published in The Greenville News on May 31, 2011
[Editor's Comment: I knew Dr. Jimmy Thompson at a distance. I have seen him over the years, and I have been to Channel 16 in Greenville on several occasions on Greta Campbell's Niteline telecast. He was always a gentleman, saw the best in others, and promoted others above himself. He was a giver and lived with joy and excitement about what God was doing and was going to do.
First of all, I want to thank my former secretary, Lynn Bowles Fry Pittman, who alerted me to Jimmy's passing. Then, Greta Campbell communicated with me and got the people at Channel 16 to send me a copy of the obituary and funeral arrangements. Later, I got a call from my good friend, the Rev. Mr. Lawrence Johnson of Anderson, SC. He is an active retired minister in the Upper South Carolina, and a constant source of information.
It is people like these that make it all happen for me and the publication of Hugh;s News. I dare say you may not get this news anywhere else.
Hugh's News is a team effort. I am honored and pleased to be able to publish the news that you may be interested in. I enjoy doing what I am doing to be a blessing to all of you who read Hugh's News.
Posted on
Thu, June 2, 2011
by Hugh Morgan