Mr. Van Thompson, age 81, of Mt. Vernon, passed into the loving arms of Jesus on Wednesday, October 5, 2022. He was born on October 4, 1941. Mr. Thompson was a native of Ailey, a 1959 graduate of Montgomery County High School, and attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural School and Brewton-Parker College. He worked in the lumber/timber industry all of his life, primarily with H.V. & T.G. Thompson Lumber Company. He was an avid fisherman and hunter, known for his love of deer hunting. He loved the Lord and invited everyone to church, and he especially enjoyed having monthly fish fries for his Mt. Vernon Baptist Church Sunday School class. Van grew up in Ailey Baptist Church where he was a deacon. Over the years, he had also been a member of College Hill Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon Baptist Church and Tabernacle Baptist Church before returning to his home church, Ailey Baptist Church. He is preceded in death by his parents, H.V. Thompson, Jr. and Edna Watkins Thompson; a son, Herschel Van Thompson, IV “Little Van”; and his Lab companions, Jake, Hershey and Babe.
His family includes his loving wife, Nina Thompson of Mt. Vernon; children, Terri Williford and husband Tim of Ailey, Tracy Smith and wife Lesley of Louisville, Kentucky, Stephanie Branch and husband Archie, and Angie Clark, all of Vidalia, Amy Horne and husband Trent of Acworth, Lauren Collins, and Anthony Powell and wife Candace of Mt. Vernon; fourteen grandchildren, Melissa Morris, Zachary Williford, Taylor Boyd, Savannah Smith, Sadie Clare Smith, Chase Thompson, Celdon Thompson, Timber Thompson, Evan Clark, Summer Horne, Brooke Horne, Katie Collins, Camille Collins and Landon Powell; seven great-grandchildren; one aunt, Gloria Thompson; one brother-in-law, Chris Callow; sisters-in-law, Lisa Fulford and Danielle Steptoe; several first cousins including, Thomas and Judy Thompson, Ann and Tommy Sheppard, Janice Hyche, Herschel Thompson, Jimmy Thompson and Maranda Baird; and a special friend, Doc Powell.
The memorial service will be Saturday morning, October 8th, at 11:00 at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church with Pastor John Elmore, Jr. officiating. Burial will be at a later date at Mt. Vernon Memorial Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday morning from 10:00 until just prior to the service.
Flowers are accepted, or memorial contributions may be made to Ailey Baptist Church, PO Box 148, Ailey, GA 30410; SOAPS, Sweet Onion Animal Protection Society, PO Box 210, Vidalia, GA 30475; United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, Wheeler Counties, PO Box 352, Vidalia, GA 30475; or Diamonds in the Ruff, c/o Nancy McDonald, 2265 Hwy 29, Tarrytown, GA 30470.
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