Betty C. Thompson

Betty is survived by her husband of 54 years, James Thompson; two sons, Daryl Thompson (Angelia) of Atlanta, GA and Gregory Thompson (Stacey) of Simpsonville, SC; two grandsons Jamal Thompson of Simpsonville, SC and Kristian Thompson of Charleston, SC, God granddaughter Laila Erby of Simpsonville, SC, two great grands Ahmad Thompson and Jada Thompson of Mauldin SC, and two brothers Daniel Colleton and George Colleton of Tampa, FL, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to her parents, Betty was preceded in death by her sister, Loretta Douglas, of Brandon, FL.

Betty was the first in her family to be baptized into The Church of Christ, at the age of twelve.

Betty graduated from Middleton High School in Tampa, FL in 1959, after which she moved to Charleston, SC where she spent three of her working years at the Citadel Mess Hall. She then entered Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta, GA in 1962 and graduated in 1965. She moved back to Tampa and worked at Tampa General Hospital for nine months. She then returned to Charleston, there she worked at the Veteran Administration Hospital as the first black staff nurse. She later became nurse manager and charge nurse in the ICU and Post Anesthesia Care Unit. Betty retired early in 1995 to relocate to Greenville, South Carolina with her family.

Betty was commissioned to enter the Air Force in 1969 as First Lieutenant but decided to marry James Thompson, December 20, 1969, therefore she was given an Honorable Discharge.

In 1980, Betty obtained her BSN at Medical University of Charleston, SC. She then earned her masters degree from the University of Phoenix in 2009. Her passion to care for others continued, she worked at Greenville Memorial Hospital as a charge nurse then a supervisor. Betty retired from Greenville Memorial Hospital in 2013 and began teaching Nursing at Greenville Technical College for another two years.

Betty enjoyed traveling, reading, and planting flowers and watching the birds at the bird feeder, she also loved to listen to her favorite musician, Lee Williams. She loved telling the story of how she and James Thompson met. With her passion for nursing, she had the opportunity to care for children in Guatemala. She loved every moment of her nursing career.

Betty loved the Lord, one of her fondest memories was visiting Jerusalem with the members of the Church of Christ. Betty is deeply missed by her family and friends.

A funeral service will be held for Betty at 9:45 am on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at I-85 Church of Christ, 10 Lone Tree Court, Greenville, SC 29605, the burial will follow at Greenville Memorial Gardens, 7784 Augusta Road, Piedmont, SC 29673.