Verna B. Thompson

Verna B. Thompson. Funeral services for Verna B. Thompson will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, at the Sardis Baptist Church, 414 E. 2nd St., Coffeyville, Kan. A memorial service will be held 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 13, at St. James Missionary Baptist Church in Fayetteville, Ark. Services are entrusted to Benjamin Funeral Service, of Nowata, Okla. Verna B. Thompson was born the seventh of 18 children on Aug. 21, 1930, to Jefferson Davis Hardrick Sr. and Tobitha J. (Martin) Hardrick in Ketchum, Okla. She passed from this life in Fayetteville, Ark., Jan. 5, 2011, after reaching 80 years, four months, and 14 days. Mrs. Thompson graduated in 1949 as Valedictorian from Attucks High School, in Vinita, Okla. On Nov. 20, 1950 she married Rev. Julis Levi Thompson, in Coffeyville, Kan. She attended Coffeyville Junior College graduating in 69. They lived in the southeastern Kansas, northeastern Oklahoma, and Joplin, Mo., before settling in Fayetteville, Ark., 38 years ago serving as minister of the St. James Missionary Baptist Church. A few years later they established the Truevine Baptist Church. Along the way they raised their six children, as well as many foster children. She was a very loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved meeting people, was a wonderful seamstress, hairdresser, and wedding planner. Being a mother, and cooking great meals for her family and friends, were some of her most personal attributes. Hobbies include fishing, and gardening both flowers and vegetables. Mrs. Thompson was a member of the Prince Hall Order of the Eastern Star, Southeast Kansas Jurisdiction, was chairperson and adviser to the Antioch District Minister Wives and Widow Wives Association, as well as chairperson of the Regular Arkansas State Arkansas Woman's Auxiliary of Arts and Crafts. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Preceding Mrs. Thompson in death are her parents, Jefferson Davis, and Tobitha Hardrick Sr., her husband, Rev. Julis Levi Thompson, an infant daughter Julianne LaJune Thompson, and several brothers and sisters. Survivors include her children, Minister Juanita Jordan, and Charlotte Crawford, of Tulsa, Rev. Robert J. Thompson, and wife Carolyn, of Pine Bluff, Ark., Claudia LaVerne Thompson, of Tulsa, Rev. Meldon Ray Thompson, and his wife, Marian, of Hindsville, Ark., Michael Lewis Thompson, and his wife Stacy, of Bentonville, Ark., 20 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, siblings Ethel Colbert, Charles M. Hardrick, Willard D. Hardrick, Jewel Anderson and Gwendolyn Meigs, as well as a host of other relatives, and friends.