Jefferson Benjamin Thompson Jr.

How do you find the words to describe the life of a man who was loved and admired by so many? Jefferson Benjamin Thompson, Jr. passed away on September 26, 2016. He was born in the small community known as Pickettville in Jacksonville, Florida to Jefferson and Maude Thompson on 2/6/26. Jeff, also known as J.B., lived his 90 years in Pickettville where he spent the last 65 years with the love of his life, Johnnie Dell Busbee Thompson.

As a young boy, Jeff spent his days enjoying the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1943 where he played the cello in the orchestra and was a pitcher on the baseball team. In 1943 he enrolled at Georgia Tech to start college but was inducted into the Army Air Force where he served from March 1944 to October 1945 when he was honorably discharged. Following his service, he returned to Georgia Tech to complete his degree. At Georgia Tech, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and a pitcher on the baseball team. During his baseball career, Jeff was known as “Sunset Thompson” and he continued playing baseball after Georgia Tech with various teams such as the Mandarin Orange Pickers.

Jeff met his wife, Johnnie, on a greyhound bus in Georgia when he boarded the bus and saw an empty seat by her. By the end of the trip, he had charmed his way into Johnnie’s heart and they were married in Lilly, Georgia on November 25, 1950. Jeff began his career this same year as a salesman for the Jacksonville Paper Company. He continued with the company as it became Unijax and was the Jacksonville Branch Manager, retiring after 40 years in 1990. Upon his retirement, his salesmen presented him with a brand new fishing boat – probably the most perfect retirement gift ever given. When talking about his career, Jeff always talked about the importance of the relationships he developed with his salesmen and customers. Our family is thankful for the friends he made during his career.

Jeff was a strong Christian and a lifelong member of Inman United Methodist Church where he often sang. He had a beautiful voice that will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Throughout his lifetime he also served in leadership positions with the Paxon High School Boosters, the Jacksonville Quarterback Club, Quail Unlimited, the Pickettville Civic Club, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Advisory Board, the Gum Swamp Creek Hunting Club, the Gopher Hole Hunting Club and was an honorary member of the Pickett Hunting Club and the St. Mary’s Hunting Club. Jeff never met a stranger and opened his heart and home to everyone. He was a gifted storyteller and because of his adventures, he had many great stories to tell. He enjoyed living on his farm where he and Johnnie raised their five children. He loved his cows and bird dogs and spent many hours in the pasture with them. His garden was a thing of beauty and he would gladly share it with anyone in the community. He also had a competitive streak, and could beat you at fishing, hunting, golf, baseball, or cards if he had the chance. He was a physically strong man with a tender heart who loved his family and friends with everything he had.

Jeff is survived by his wife, Johnnie, their five children, Ben (Pat) Thompson, Guy (Kim) Thompson, Gail Devereaux, Bruce Thompson and Beth (Brad) Taman, 12 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and close family friends. His only sibling, Emily Thompson Donaldson, whom he loved dearly, preceded him in death.

A funeral service for Jefferson Benjamin Thompson Jr. will be held at 2:00pm Friday, September 30, 2016 at Hardage-Giddens Edgewood Funeral Home, 729 Edgewood Ave. South, Jacksonville FL 32205. After the funeral service, there will be a procession to Edgewood Cemetery for the graveside service, 4519 North Edgewood Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32219.