Shirley Mae Thompson

SHIRLEY MAE THOMPSON was born on May 8, 1935, in Bishopville (Lee County), South Carolina to Shirley and Viola Wallace (Anderson). Shirley was next to the youngest of 5 children: Marie Martin, Amelia Isaac, Jim Isaac (Mary “Lou”), and Jessie Brown. She had 8 children, Dianne Mack (deceased), Jessie E. (Joyce) Vance (Sidney), John T. (Jakey) Thompson (Norma), Sheila O. Thompson (James Hayes deceased), Larry G. Thompson, Elaine V. Clayton (Stan), Roslyn Johnson (Rodney) and Tracy Robinson (deceased). Shirley had many grandchildren, Charles Jerry Holmes, Larry Wayne Smalls (Loyda), Tynnetta “Donyae” Casiano (Carlos), Tylesha “Pinky” Spedden, Tynelle Branch (Sean), Larry G. Thompson, Aisha Smitson (Andrew deceased), Dexter L. Thompson, Tesha Thompson (Sachin), Tonya Critcher (Christopher), Tyra Mack, Tabatha Robinson, Ineisha Robinson, Erica Morales (Felix), Troy Thompson (Tamika), Melanie D. Thompson, John T. Thompson III, Terri Gittings, Kia Robinson, Tracy Robinson Jr., Angel Stevenson, Andrew Horne, Apollo Thompson (Aerin), Jessica Thompson and Maurice Thompson. We’ll all remember her great crab cakes, fried chicken and fish, sweet potato pie, cakes, andmany other tasty delights! Her nieces and nephews include: The Isaac family, including Marvin (Cassandra), Theo (Lirine), James (Mary “Peaches”), Amelia, Carl, Terry (Wanda). Also, Laverne Brown, Tyrone Little (Dorothy) and Karen Stewart. Those deceased include William Brown, Sharon Bradford and Edward Stewart. There are many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She is survived by first cousins Arlee Wallace Owens of Washington DC and Lenora Hopkins of Brooklyn, NYC. Shirley met and married John Thompson Sr. in 1953, had 4 children together and separated in 1959. She raised her children, as a single mother, in Perkins projects from 1959-1987, working for Superior Laundry from 1959 until 1965 forming many lifetime friends. She later worked as a domestic for 2 families, followed by working as a member of the cleaning staff at the University of Maryland and St. Agnes Hospitals. While in Perkins she led her children to St. Augustine Lutheran Church under the leadership of Pastor Hans Volkert Goebel where they were baptized and received significant Christian, educational and life training. The family was tremendously blessed by this experience! Shirley later was ordained a Reverend at El Bethel Prayer Tabernacle under the longtime leadership of Bishop Joan Sanders. The church later became The City of Prayer, currently under the Leadership of Bishop Danny Evans, where she remained an active member. Shirley founded the Benevolence Ministry, was part of the Missionary Ministry, taught bible study, preached several sermons and much more during her many years as a servant there in God’s Kingdom! Retiring at 62 in 1997, Shirley enjoyed travel throughout the USA, Mexico, Canada and cruising the Caribbean for vacation, church conventions and visiting family. Earlier in life she visited Sheila in Germany. Her children are proud to be blessed to provide her with a beautiful life after all she has sacrificed and done for them. For 30 years Shirley was actively involved in managing a large family reunion, including family members and venues from NYC to South Carolina. She hosted the 200-person event in Baltimore in 2007. From 2000 to 2024, she lived with Sheila, followed by one year with Elaine, and finally three months in Future Care Belvedere Nursing Home. During her time at Future Care, she was blessed with nonstop visits and care from her children and grandchildren until transitioning to Jesus! Thank God Shirley had an intimate relationship with Jesus and was a true Prayer Warrior, constantly receiving requests to pray for family and friends through her strong faith in God and the Word! Shirley was called home to be with the Lord on November 13, 2025, while at Future Care Belvedere in Baltimore, MD. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, daughter Dianne Mack, son Tracy Robinson, nephews William Brown and Edward Stewart, niece Sharon Bradford, and son-in-law James Hayes.

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Shirley Mae Thompson

May 8, 1935 - November 13, 2025