Elizabeth Burke Thompson

Elizabeth Burke ThompsonSylacauga, AL – A Celebration of Life will be held for Elizabeth Burke Thompson Monday, March 18, 2013 at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, AL at 10:00 a.m. Rev. Lewis Archer will officiate.Mrs. Thompson passed away Friday, March 15, 2013 at Coosa Valley Medical Center.  Mrs. Thompson will always be remembered by her passion for education and for her love of family.  Mrs. Thompson was born July 16, 1921 in Tucson, AZ to Inez Thomas Burke and Edward Patrick Burke.  She graduated from West End High School at age 16.  She graduated from University of Montevallo majoring in music.  She completed post graduate work in education at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.  She married Henry A. Thompson February 23, 1943.  Mrs. Thompson taught at Diversified Education at Decatur High School, science and history at Sylacauga High School and East Highland for 25 years.  After she and Mr. Thompson retired they enjoyed traveling, especially European trips.  She was an avid bird watcher.  She was a member of United Methodist Women, and held various offices in this organization.  She participated in meals on wheels.  Mrs. Thompson was especially proud of her former students, her children and their families.Mrs. Thompson was preceded in death by her parents, Inez and Edward Patrick Burke and her husband, Henry A. Thompson.She is survived by her daughters, Carole Bailey, husband Jim, of Sylacauga and Jane McLain, husband Mike, of Atlanta; son, Henry Arendell Thompson Jr., wife Carol, of Atlanta; sister-in-law, Katherine T. Clark of Billings, MT; sister-in-law, Mary Thompson of Nashville, TN; grandsons, Andrew McLain, wife Katie, of Helena, MT, Matthew McLain, wife Ashley, of Baltimore, MD and John Patrick Bailey of Sylacauga; granddaughter, Jordan Padgett, husband Jason, of Nashville, TN; great-granddaughters, Lindsey Karen McLain of Helena, MT, Emily Jane McLain of Baltimore, MD and Taylor Elizabeth Padgett of Nashville, TN; great-grandsons, Ryan Burke McLain of Baltimore, MD and Austin McLain Padgett of Nashville, TN; step-grandson, Eric O'Laughlin of Boston, MA; step-granddaughter, Leslie Wander, husband Jeremiah, of Seattle, WA; devoted caregivers, Addie Heard, FaShandra Evans, Mary Marie McElrath and Connie McElrath; the devoted staff at Mountain View Lake Retirement Home and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Sunday, March 17, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Radney-Smith Funeral Home.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the B.B. Comer Memorial Library, First United Methodist Church of Sylacauga or Sylacauga School Foundation.Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneysmith.com.Radney-Smith Funeral Home in Sylacauga, AL will direct the services.