Ila "Jean" Connell Thompson, 90, of Tifton died Friday, November 28, 2014, at her residence. Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 1, 2014, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with Dr. Fred Evers and Rev. Shane Ashley officiating. Mrs. Thompson will be laid to rest at Eldorado Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Clinton Moore officiating. The family will receive friends on Sunday, November 30, 2014, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Six of Mrs. Thompson’s grandsons, Joe Thompson, Milton Thompson, Rusty Jordan, Jamie Thompson, Justin Thompson and Whitney Thompson will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Mrs. Thompson’s remaining grandchildren, Ryan Thompson, Chip Flohe, Rick Flohe, Denise Beacham, Kelly Williams, Jennifer Broun, Jill Crumley, Paige Brewer, Jon Thompson, Matt Thompson, Ashley Lane, Courtney Bowles, Christie Canfield, Jeannie Paulk, Cassie Wallace, Haley Thompson, Josh Jordan, Luke Jordan, Jake Thompson and Jared Thompson.
Mrs. Thompson was born on February 26, 1924 in Tift County and was the daughter of Leonard Connell and Mary Gray Connell, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by one son, Rocky Thompson; two grandsons, Andrew Thompson and Neal Thompson; three brothers; and four sisters. She was a homemaker and a member of Lenox Baptist Church. She loved her family dearly and loved her Lord, first of all.
Mrs. Thompson is survived by her husband of 72 years, Grady Thompson, Sr. of Tifton; six sons and daughters-in-law, Grady Jr. and Sarah Thompson of Tifton, Melvin and Pam Thompson of Tifton, Danny and Pat Thompson of Adel, Jimmy and Faye Thompson of Norman Park, Jack and Debbie Thompson of Tifton and Clyde and Lisa Thompson of Tifton; two daughters and sons-in-law, Martha and Happ Flohe of Sevierville, Tennessee and Ginger and Gerald Jordan of Tifton; a daughter-in-law, Susan Fresh Thompson of Adel; 26 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.