Glynn Morris Thompson, 75, of Acworth, Georgia, died on Friday, November 5, 2021 in Marietta, Georgia. He was born in Irwin County, Georgia on August 7, 1946 to parents Russell James (R.J.) and Lona King Thompson who both preceded him in death.
Glynn, the oldest of five children, grew up farming and playing football. He played tackle for the Irwin County High School team and graduated in 1965. Glynn attended the University of South Carolina on a football scholarship and received his Bachelor of Science in Business and Marketing from Troy State University, also on a football scholarship. In 1967 he was All ACC and in 1968 was a unanimous choice for the All Conference and All District N.A.I.A teams. Troy State won the National Championship that year and Glynn was chosen by his teammates to be captain for the game. He was the only member of any football team in the Alabama Collegiate Conference to be drafted in the national draft. Glynn signed with the Miami Dolphins and reported for summer camp but chose not to stay. He had a rather colorful story involving two other players and hitchhiking home, but the family believes he was just too homesick to stay.
After college, Glynn and his wife, Ginger Wingate Thompson, lived in Ocilla, Georgia where he worked for the Department of Agriculture and then briefly lived in Statesboro, Georgia before moving back home to farm with his dad. He and Ginger raised three daughters in Ocilla. After many years of farming, he moved to the Atlanta area and later retired from Solarland Surveying Company. Although he lived and worked for many years in the Atlanta area, Ocilla was always his home.
Glynn was given the nickname "Big Daddy" by his football coach in high school and many people called him that throughout his life. Big Daddy was so proud of his grandchildren and spent many days at baseball, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, and football games supporting them all. He loved to hunt in his younger years and was an avid fisherman making sure to share that with his three girls as well as his four grands. He loved to play games and watch sports, college football in particular, and he loved his dog, Sambo.
Glynn is survived by his children: Doan and Drew Richardson, Stacy and Paul Hyler, Krissy and Brennen Hicks; his grandchildren: Mason Hicks, Augustus Hyler, Pyper Hicks, Hawthorne Hyler; siblings: Sue and John Stanzilis, Dennis Thompson, Donnie Thompson, Danny and Donna Thompson; as well as aunts nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A celebration of his life will be held at Frank Primitive Baptist Church located at 627 Frank Church Rd. Fitzgerald, Georgia 31750 on Sunday, November 21, 2021. The 2:00 service will be led by Elder Edward McIntyre and family will receive guests in the church social hall immediately after for those who would like to visit.