I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7
The Beginning
Alice Creola Thompson was born on September 30, 1952 to the parents of Mr. O.W Thompson and Mrs. Ida “Bea” G. Thompson in Hattisburg, Mississippi.
She was the second youngest, followed by her brother, Sgt. (Ret.) Andre B. Thompson (who preceded her in death), with Bobbie T. Pankey and Gwendolyn Thompson as her older sisters.
A Glimpse Into Her Early Years
She stayed active and focused from early on—attending Spencer High School and later graduating from Baker High School. During that time, she was involved in activities like cheerleading.
She began college at Martin College before changing direction to Respiratory Therapy and completing her studies at Georgia State University, where her hard work led to her lifelong passion.
A New Chapter: Marriage & Motherhood
During this chapter of her life, she embraced both marriage and motherhood, welcoming her child, Ashley, whom she loved deeply.
She shared a marriage with her best friend that lasted over 20 years, built on life, memories, and a deep connection. Even though it didn’t last, they continued to care for one another.
Above all, she remained strong and unwavering in her love and commitment to motherhood. As her daughter, I was filled with laughter—she was funny, full of personality, and we shared many joyful moments together. She hosted lots of parties for my friends and I over the course of my life.
As a mother, she taught me life skills in her own way—how to cook, how to recognize quality jewelry and furniture on shopping trips, and her deep love for animals, which was always part of who she was. She loved to buy clothes for me and lay them across my bed as a surprise, whether as a reward for good grades or simply to show how proud she was of me.
She always made sure I had enough, often working multiple jobs at once to provide a stable home. Her goal was always to give me the best life possible—and she truly did.
30+ Years of Work & Dedication in Healthcare
Former coworkers and patients often shared how she went beyond what was required to make people feel seen and cared for—whether it was helping patients with baths after long 12-hour shifts, personally bringing them fresh meals from outside the hospital when they were tired of hospital food, or simply sitting with those who felt lonely. She took time to brush patients’ hair, comfort them, and treat them with dignity in the smallest moments.
She was blessed to find a career that not only provided a comfortable lifestyle, but one that also brought her joy. Over time, she took full ownership of her career path and became a dependable, highly trusted Respiratory Therapist known for the quality of her work. She was often asked to work overtime because of her strong reputation and consistent excellence.
That same compassion followed her outside of work. She would offer kindness freely—stuffing money into a birthday card that she gave to a local Publix worker who always helped her with cuts of meat, assisting strangers who became ill or fainted in stores even when she was off duty, and thoughtfully giving small gifts like perfumes or gifts to coworkers and patients just to brighten their day.
She was deeply passionate about her work and fully involved in her care. Whether she was supervising at the formerly hospital known as West Paces Ferry to her retirement at Piedmont Newnan, she loved it all.
One little surprise is that one point, she performed Christian comedy at various venues and churches to tell jokes in a natural way. She was always funny. Many knew her as someone who was honest and funny. Rarely did she “bite her tongue” sort of speak.
Captured Memories
She loved history. Her favorite subject was world wars. She always said, “Learn history so you can recognize patterns and know what could happen next.” Most recently, she read alot of Hitler books to study the current atmosphere, and I learned alot about warning signs to look out for. She also read autobiographies of past presidents that included Reagan, Bush, Obama, Nixon, and so on. Her favorite channel was PBS and the History network.
She participated in the civil rights movement. She was passionate about black history, and she always took off work for Martin Luther King birthday.
She spent time with her sisters. Often time, they would eat and talk. Well, she would talk alot and say a funny jokes or tell stories. She repeated herself alot, but she one thing for sure, she remembered details to the exact point. She could re-tell the same thing and not skip a beat.
Besides spending time with her siblings, she enjoyed her grandkids when they came to visit. They often called her “The funny granny.” She had a different way of showing love, but her grandchildren were always important to her, and that love showed through in the unique way she engaged with them and stayed involved in their lives.
During her retirement, she mostly stayed at home and slept. She worked night shift for many years, so she always said it was hard to adjust or stay on a set schedule. Whenever she chose to hang out, she attended a few Spencer High School reunions, The National Council of Negro Women, or hosted events at work.
Her favorite hobby was shopping at places like Belk, JCPenney, Kohl’s, and Saks Fifth Avenue for fine jewelry and clothing. Eventually, her favorite hangout spot was in Newnan, Georgia.
She always took pride in looking well put together and preferred buying quality pieces because “they lasted.” She often said that, “when you’ve gone without for a while, you appreciate being able to dress nicely and have things that make you feel good for yourself.”
Her Legacy Lives On
Alice lived a normal life up until November 2025. Things changed suddenly during the week of Thanksgiving when she became ill and drove herself to her doctor. That same day, she was admitted to Piedmont Newnan Hospital. What was first believed to be a severe case of pneumonia quickly became more serious after additional test results.
In December, she returned to the hospital, where it was determined that she had a terminal illness. She was immediately placed on oxygen. She remained in her independent living apartment for a time, until one day when I helped her bathe and realized she was too weak to sit up on her own. In that moment, I knew it was time to bring her into our home for hospice care.
During that period, she spent most of her days resting. She still found comfort in small things she enjoyed—her favorite salads, celery sticks with ranch, and Southern meals like fried fish Fridays, which she always looked forward to. She drank her sweet tea and plenty of water. All meals were prepared by me, her daughter (except when she craved fast food fries).
By mid-spring, her condition began to change more significantly. She was no longer able to eat solid foods and eventually transitioned to pureed meals. Her health declined further after she made the personal decision to stop using oxygen, fully aware of her condition and the changes taking place.
In her final days, she was cared for with deep love and devotion in her daughter’s home, supported by her son-in-law and grandchildren. Her favorite flowers were tulips and roses, and she was lovingly surrounded by fresh arrangements each week until her passing. She received hospice care at home until she was later transferred to respite care, where she fell asleep peacefully. Her daughter remained by her side until she was no longer responsive.
After her passing in respite care, the cats were found sleeping in her bed at home. She was embraced by the Lord on May 3, 2026.
Her final wish was to be cremated. She did not want a memorial service or funeral. In her honor, her remains will be placed in a niche.
In 2 Corinthians 5:8, she was confident in the words, “willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (KJV). She is now with Him. She accepted Christ as her personal Savior at a very early age and remained steadfast in her faith throughout her life, taking communion and reaffirming her belief once again with the hospice chaplain.
Donations may be made to the organization closest to her heart, reflecting her lifelong love for animals: Atlanta Humane Society
It was her desire to volunteer and help animals prior to her illness.
