Jamie was born in Tucker, Arkansas on June 28, 1931, and grew up in Little Rock. She paid her own way through Texas Women's College, earning a degree in sociology/professional social work. She met Bill at his sister's house that was next door to her parents' home. After graduation, they married and moved to San Antonio. Ten months later, Mike was born. Eighteen months after that, Mark was born. The family moved a number of times, ending up in Hartford, Connecticut for the boys' teenage years. Bill and Jaime moved to Tampa, Florida, and later finally settled in Austin, Texas in the late '70s.
Jamie worked for the Austin Visitors Bureau, the Texas Recreational Vehicle Association, and volunteered as an usher for the Austin Symphony. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Austin, making lifelong friends and participating in many of their activities. One of her favorites was the annual trip to El Paso/Juarez with Christmas gifts and care packages for the children in a Mexican orphanage. Jamie loved to travel, taking elder hostel trips and river cruises. Her favorite trips though were to Greece with grandson Adam, and to France with granddaughter Molly. Jamie was loving, kind, generous, independent, self-sufficient, and feisty. She loved to learn new things and was fiercely loyal to her family.
She is predeceased by her parents, Herbie and Patsye Branson, sister, Betty, and husband, William N. “Bill” Thompson. She is survived by her younger son, Mark, and wife Bobbie Thompson. She is also survived by oldest son Mike and wife Sandra Thompson; grandson Adam and wife Kimberly Thompson, great-grandchildren, Nell and Emmett Thompson; granddaughter Molly and husband Nick Van Sistine and great-granddaughter Daisy Van Sistine; along with step-granddaughter, Brigitte Whitmire.
A joyful celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, July 14, 2022, at 10:00 am at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home, 6300 W. William Cannon Dr., Austin, TX 78749. Reception to follow.
Donations in Jamie's memory may be made to the Austin Symphony.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldenforestoaks.com for the Thompson family.
