Arme Ree Thompson

Mrs. Arme Ree (Jones) Thompson was born September 19, 1932 in Pineview, Mississippi to Barney and Cecelia (Turner) Jones. She accepted Jesus Christ at an early age and attended the local Baptist church. Arme attended the local elementary school and subsequently attended The Piney Woods School, a boarding school, in Piney Woods, Mississippi graduating from there in 1951. The Piney Woods School is a historically black school that was founded in 1909. After graduation, she enrolled at Philander Smith College, a historically black college, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. While attending college, she met and fell in love with Luther Lawrence Thompson, Jr. They left Arkansas and traveled to Michigan and were married in 1951. This union was blessed with three daughters. Pamela, Renata and Cheryl.

Years later, she returned to school with hopes of following in her mother’s footsteps as a teacher. Arme attended Jackson Junior College, graduating in 1965. She went on to attend Eastern Michigan University, graduating in 1968 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She subsequently obtained a Master’s degree in 1971 and Specialist in Arts degree in 1976.

Arme began a long and successful career in teaching, beginning at St. Mary’s Catholic School. After some challenges, she was hired by Jackson Public Schools. She taught at Blair-Reed Elementary, Blackman Elementary and lastly Northeast Elementary school where she taught until her retirement.

Arme was a member of Eta Phi Beta Sorority. In the Jackson community she was a member of the League of Women voters and a lifetime member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In 1951 she rededicated her life to the Lord and became a member of Lane Memorial CME Church. There she served faithfully as a steward, and in other areas where needed until she could no longer attend.

On Friday, April 10, 2026, her life’s assignment ended and she was called from her earthly labor. She was preceded in death by her parents and daughters Pamela Thompson and Cheryl Smith. She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter Renata Thompson, 5 grandchildren Tomeika Marrai, Dennis Thompson, Damian Hall, Shannon Weatherly and Franklin D. (Tamara) Smith, Jr., 11 great-grandchildren Kiera Lowder, Tracy, Jetaja and Deavien Thompson, Xavien, Amarhi and Amiyah Weatherly, Damian and Santana Smith, Antione Cox and Jutione Hall, and 6 great great grandchildren Antione Cox, Jr., Zaydeon Cox, Jayvier Griffin, Breylen Brown, Demarious Cockream and Jae’Vyn Lowder and a host of other relatives and friends.