This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: KENNELLYMARKA Surnames: Thompson, Magee, Taylor, Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.thompson/17500/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Thompson, Willie J. Willie J. Thompson Willie J. Thompson, 92, 5333 Washington Ave., passed away Saturday, December 6, 2008, at the VA Medical Center. He was born April 22, 1916, in Carson, Miss., son of the late Roxanne Taylor Thompson. He moved to Erie in 1956 and was employed by GE in assembly until he retired. He had previously worked at Savoy Fountain. He was a proud veteran of the U. S. Navy where he served a tour of duty in Hawaii during World War II. Although not a member of the church, he helped Friendship Baptist Church in any way he could. Willie enjoyed hunting, fishing, and entertaining people. He also loved to play baseball and played in various leagues in the Erie area and also in Mississippi. At one time he was a teammate of Sam Jethroe. He was a good communicator and liked to help people. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Besides his mother, he was preceded in death a son, Willie Edward Thompson; a daughter, Maryjane Joyce Aultman; and two sisters, Minnie Mae Alexander and Rosie Whitemore. He leaves t! o cherish his memory his wife, Rachel Magee Thompson; four sons, Zebedee (Fanny) Thompson and Kennedy Thompson, all of Erie, and Willie (Louease) Powell, Mount Olive, Miss., and James Balls, Moss Point, Miss.; four daughters, Eloise (Charles) Graves, Bassfield, Miss., Minnie (Willie) Parker, Laurel, Miss., and Eloise Fotenberry and Carolyn Thompson, both Carson, Miss.; 31 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Friends may visit with the family Friday, 5 to 8 p.m., at Law Funeral Home, 2926 Pine Ave., and may attend a funeral service Saturday, 1 p.m., at Friendship Baptist Church, 1711 Plum St., conducted by Elder Danny Stanton. Interment in Erie Cemetery. Erie Times-News from 12/8/2008 - 12/11/2008, Friendship Baptist Church," Law Funeral Home, " Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.