Rev. Dr. Gordon G. Thompson

Our beloved father, the Reverend Dr. Gordon Thompson passed away on August 21, 2009. Dr. Thompson was the loving and devoted husband of Alice Marie Richardson Thompson who preceded him in death (10/9/2003). Throughout his life, Dr. Thompson served his Lord faithfully as a minister of the United Methodist Church, a Professor of Theology, an author, and a pastoral counselor. He was loved by many and will be greatly missed by all. Dr. Thompson enriched and blessed the lives of his family, friends, students, church and community members with his sense of compassion, his strong faith in God, his unending enthusiasm for life, and his ability to always encourage and affirm those around him. Dr. Thompson was born in Athens, Georgia, on May 29, 1918, the son of Mamie Venable Thompson and General Gordon Thompson, Sr. He attended the University of Georgia, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1942. He continued his education at Emory University’s Theological Seminary, receiving a Master of Divinity in 1946. In 1964, Gordon received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from LaGrange College. Dr. Thompson’s career as a minister began in 1942 as Pastor of the Walton Circuit of the North Georgia Methodist Conference. As a minister, Dr. Thompson served Allen Memorial Methodist Church in Oxford, Georgia, Dallas First Methodist Church, Martha Brown Methodist Church in East Atlanta, and the First United Methodist Church of Marietta. In 1963, Dr. Thompson was appointed as the District Superintendent of the Atlanta Emory District. In 1965, Dr. Thompson turned his focus to teaching for the next 22 years of his career in ministry. He joined the faculty of the Candler School of Theology of Emory University and served as the Shatford Professor of Homiletics. Following his retirement from teaching, Gordon became pastor of the Elizabeth Methodist Church in Marietta from 1989 to 1992. He then joined the staff of the First Methodist Church of Marietta as a Pastoral Counselor. During his ministry, Dr. Thompson was elected as a delegate to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church six times, from 1964 to 1980. He was elected as a delegate to the Ecumenical Conference in Oxford, England in 1951, and as a delegate to the World Methodist Conference which was held in London in 1966. Dr. Thompson served as a Trustee of Young Harris College, a Trustee of Wesleyan College, a Board Member of the Protestant Radio and Television Center, and a founding Trustee of Wesley Woods of Emory University. For 26 years during his active ministry, Dr. Thompson also devoted himself to writing the spring series of International Church School Lessons for the Wesleyan Christian Advocate. Dr. Thompson authored 3 books: His Words On Happiness, 1953; Living the Easter Faith, The Power of the Resurrection in the Modern World, 2004; and Alice Marie Richardson Thompson, A Remarkable Woman, 2007. Dr. Thompson is survived by his three devoted daughters and sons-in-law: Martha and Bill Wagner of Marietta, Georgia; Marie and Michael Keen of St. Augustine, Florida; and Mary Coole of Lilburn, Georgia; two brothers-in-law; Dr. Jim Richardson and his wife Jean, of Peachtree City, Georgia; and Miller Richardson of New York, New York; eight grandchildren, Allison Wagner; Chad Wagner and his wife Emilie; Eveleigh Wagner; Elizabeth Keen Moyer and her husband Joshua; Stephen Keen and his wife Sara; Rebecca Bell Keen; Anna Marie Keen; Samuel Gordon Coole; four great grandchildren, Claire Martha, Anna Lynne, Nathan Joseph and Matthew Adam all of whom will miss him very much, and several dear nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service is planned for Sunday, August 30, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. It will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Marietta on Whitlock Avenue; with Rev. Dr. Sam Matthews, Rev. Sam Storey, Sr., Bishop Bevel Jones and the Honorable Conely Ingram officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one of the following: The Foundation of Wesley Woods, 1817 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329; or to the Good Samaritan Fund of the First United Methodist Church of Marietta, 56 Whitlock Avenue, Marietta, GA 3004. Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home and Crematory are in charge of the arrangements. www.mayeswarddobbins.com

Rev. Dr. Gordon G. Thompson

August 27, 2009