Obituary of Grady Thompson

SPRINGDALE: Funeral service for MSGT. Grady E. Thompson, Ret., 77, will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 30, 2012, at Elmwood Avenue Church of God, officiated by Pastor Byron Powers, Rev. Richard Porterfield, Rev. Thomas Madden, Rev. Kevin E. Thompson and Rev. Wesley K.E. Thompson. Interment will follow in Woodridge Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday evening at Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington. Mr. Thompson, husband of Gaynelle Thompson for 50 years, passed away Tuesday, March 27, 2012. Born in Laurens, SC, on January 7, 1935, he was a son of the late Grady Thompson and Nettie Rutledge Thompson. He studied at the University of South Carolina and graduated from Lee University, Cleveland, TN. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserves as Master Sergeant on January 7, 1995; and was employed at the U.S. Postal Services for 33 years. Mr. Thompson was a member of Elmwood Avenue Church of God for approximately 55 years, where he served at his church as organist, was a member of the church council, Sunday School Teacher and presently church trustee. Survivors are: his wife, Gaynelle Thompson of West Columbia; sons, Kevin E. Thompson (Denise) of Cincinnati, OH and Stephen A. Thompson of Columbia; daughter, Melissa T. Gresham (Mark) of Simpsonville; three grandchildren, Wesley K.E. Thompson (Lindsey) of Indian Land, SC, Seth C. Thompson of Cincinnati, OH and Markie G. Gresham of Simpsonville; sisters, Ann Jacks (George) and Nadine Roberts (Roy).