Gregory Steele Thompson

Gregory S. Thompson died unexpectedly on February 9, 2025. Born in Spartanburg, SC on December 30, 1950, Greg was the son of Roy and Virginia Thompson. He moved to Atlanta at a young age, attended Pace Academy, graduated from Washington and Lee University, and subsequently obtained an MBA at the University of Virginia’s Darden School.

Greg served on the faculty of the European Institute of Business Administration in Fontainebleau, France for several years before joining Marsh & McLennan in New York in their Multinational Services Division. In 1979, Greg started Thompson Insurance Enterprises, Inc. (THOMCO) headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Over a period of 33 years he built THOMCO from a fledgling wholesale insurance operation to a major Program Administrator with over 15 national programs. On January 1, 2012 THOMCO was sold to the Markel Insurance Company although Greg stayed on to run THOMCO. In November, 2012 he became President of Markel Specialty and subsequently retired from Markel on January 1, 2018. In “retirement” Greg was an independent consultant and a Senior Advisor for Century Equity Partners. Greg’s professional designations included CPCU, ARM and CPI. Greg was actively involved with Target Market Program Administrators Association and served a term as Board President.

He served on numerous boards, including former chair of Catholic Charities of Atlanta, the Center for Secret of Peace in Rwanda, and was actively serving on the board of The Bascom Community Arts Center in Highlands, NC and recently founded the Thompson Study Abroad Program at Western Carolina University in Sylva, NC. He and Mary also supported ministries in Haiti and India. Greg worshiped our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Atlanta and Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Highlands, NC. He loved to golf with friends and belonged to Capital City Club in Atlanta and Wildcat Cliffs Country Club in Highlands, NC.

Greg and his wife of 44 years, Mary, enjoyed entertaining in Atlanta and Highlands and visiting with their countless friends and family members. Throughout their marriage, Greg and Mary traveled the world, visiting all seven continents. Among other accomplishments, he was fluent in speaking, reading, and writing French. Mr. Thompson is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Julia, brothers Scott (Mary), Mark, and Phil (Mary Beth), and sisters-in-law Maureen Nolan and Ellen Nolan.

There was a visitation followed by a rosary on Friday, February 14, 2025, at H. M. Patterson & Son, Arlington Chapel in Sandy Springs, GA. The Funeral Mass was held at 10 am on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Atlanta, GA. A Requiem Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Highlands, NC on Saturday, February 22nd, 2025 at 11 AM, with interment of ashes to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Catholic Charities of Atlanta or to the building fund at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Highlands, NC, or simply pass on brotherly love to another person in need who crosses your path. Pay it forward!