Edgar Earl (Buddy) Thompson
Edgar Earl (Buddy) Thompson died on July 12, 2016. Born in Grenada MS on January 22, 1947, he graduated from John Rundle High School and then from Mississippi State University, where he received his BA and MA degrees in English. He did his Master's thesis on Johnson Jones Hooper, one of the humorists of the Old South. He was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity at Miss. State. He also completed additional graduate work at the University of Mississippi in English and counseling psychology.
Buddy (as he was always known by everyone) had two careers, and was very successful at both. In the first, he taught English at Northwest Community College in Senatobia for 13 years, and before that at Bevell Community College in Fayette, Alabama, at Lurleen B. Wallace State Community College in Andalusia, Alabama and at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi. All during this first career, he enjoyed photography as a major hobby. Then in mid-life he interchanged his interests, becoming a professional photographer, first in Senatobia and then in Grenada, while keeping literature as a hobby.
Buddy and his wife, Beverly, were a true team of photographers at E. E. Thompson Photography in Grenada, complementing each other's skills behind the camera and computer. They both were active in the Professional Photographers of Mississippi-Alabama, and both served the Association as President. Buddy was a skilled artist in portrait photography; he and Beverly were able to capture expressions truly reflective of personality. And his work spanned all ages, including family portraits, senior portraits, and professional portraits. His portraits hang in homes and businesses throughout North Mississippi. The Professional Photographers of Mississippi-Alabama was very important to him, and he and his professional photographer colleagues were very supportive of each other in times of illness or overload.
Buddy loved animals, and was an easy touch for an abandoned dog or cat, and he was a loving care giver as age crept up on his pets. But his and Beverly's special pet was always a toy poodle, often named for authors or literary characters.
He was an avid reader in literature, history, and religion. He was especially fond of Mississippi authors, and he had a strong interest in Presbyterian history. He greatly enjoyed preparing for and teaching a Sunday School class at First Presbyterian Church in Grenada, his childhood church, where he was an Elder and currently serving as Clerk of Session. First Presbyterian was dear to his heart, and he was committed to its function and preservation, continually giving time and attention to the needs of the small congregation and the venerable old building. He followed his dear mother in importance to that church. He had a true ecumenical outlook, always looking for new opportunity and new mission. He was a great believer in community benevolence – the church helping those in need within the community. He was active in the community and a longtime member of the Grenada Lions Club and the Senatobia Civitan Club, where he served as President.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Beverly Vance Thompson, and by his brother Joe and Emilie Thompson of Starkville. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Bernice Thompson of Grenada. His surviving family also includes Sharon and Bill Daly, Jimmy and Merrill Vance all of Grenada, nephews Douglass Thompson, Starkville; Preston Daly, Golden, Colorado; Vance Daly, Hernando, Mississippi; and Josh Daly of West Palm Beach, Florida. Terri Lynn Bays Hall, Oxford; Barry Bays, Cleveland; and Melody Bays Burrell, Winona.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, July 16, 2016 at First Presbyterian Church in Grenada. Interment will follow in the Woodlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 PM Friday evening at McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service and one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Grenada, Post Office Box 387, Grenada, MS 38902.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada, (662-307-2694).