Willa "Dean" Thompson Temple

Dean was born May 1,1943 in Robinson County, North Carolina, daughter of Harold Thompson and Lelia Mae Church Thompson. Her family moved to Lake View, South Carolina where she was raised and graduated from Lake View High School. After graduation, she attended Selina Business School in Lumberton, North Carolina and moved to Raleigh, North Carolina to work for the Automobile Dealers Association. Dean met her husband of 58 years, Wallace Gardner Temple, Jr. They settled in Greensboro, North Carolina where they raised their two daughters. Always putting her family first, she worked various roles in the school system. Her most rewarding role was working with the special needs children at Sternberger Elementary School in Greensboro. Dean and Gardner moved to Clayton, NC in 1997 where she worked and retired from West Johnston Elementary School. While her health allowed, she was an active member of First Baptist Church of Clayton and loved her friends in Sunday School and her women’s circle.

She loved vacationing at the beach, her screen porch time with the birds, a chocolate treat, and chatting on the phone with her friends and family. She lit up every time she saw her grandsons and delighted in spoiling them. Always quick witted, Dean loved to make everyone laugh, and feel comfortable by offering special treats.

Dean is survived by her husband, Wallace Gardner Temple Jr.; daughters, Lisa Ann Temple and her husband William Vinson Ratliff, and Renee Temple Grantham and her husband Mark Edward Grantham; two grandsons, who affectionately called her Grammy, Davis Richard Domina (Sierra Burbank Domina), and Cameron Wallace Domina; her siblings Mary Alice Thompson Bowles, Cary Ray Thompson, and William Harold Thompson. She is preceded in death by her father, Harold Thompson, her mother, Leila Mae Church Thompson and her brother, Wade Temple Thompson.

The family will receive visitation at First Baptist Church of Clayton on Wednesday December 17, 2025 at 11:00 am, with a memorial service following at 12 noon

A special thank you to the caring staff on the 6th floor of the Rex vascular unit and the Smithfield SECU Hospice where she received tender loving care. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Clayton, SECU Hospice House of Smithfield, or the North Carolina Special Olympics.

Online condolences may be made to the family at: www.mclaurinatpinecrest.com.