Ramona Darlene Tompkins

August 6, 1929 – August 16, 2016 (age 87)

Place of birth: Cincinnati, Ohio

Ramona died peacefully of natural causes at a nursing facility in Jacksonville, FL. She married her husband, Lee William Tompkins, Jr. on February 21, 1954

Our mom had two loving children, Eric Lee Tompkins and Leigh-Anne Tompkins.

In addition to her children and Lee, her husband of 62 years, she leaves behind her daughter-in-law Cindy and two grandchildren (Heather Fitzhugh and Ryan Tompkins).

Mom (Ramona) was a strong, optimistic, brilliant, caring and very patient woman who loved having people around her! She taught us acceptance of diversity. In the 1960s, she was a civil rights advocate and a follower of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We are so proud of her work as an advocate.

In her younger age, she was self-taught after she graduated high school. Her dream was to become a doctor, but she couldn’t afford it because of the Great Depression’s aftermath. Mom went into a medical field as a medical technologist. Later, she became a medical transcriptionist so she could work from home while caring for her daughter who has cerebral palsy.

Later, after her daughter Leigh-Anne graduated from college, and inspired by Leigh-Anne’s accomplishment, Mom returned to college, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in English Literature at the age of 69. Mom loved to read and collected many books. She was an excellent cook and hostess, whose culinary skills will always be happily remembered by many of her friends and family.

Arrangements are under the direction of Hardage-Giddens Greenlawn Funeral Home and Cemetery.

Please offer condolences at www.greenlawnjacksonville.com