Charles Thompson (CLARKS HILL, S.C.)

CLARKS HILL, S.C. - Mr. Charles Broadus Thompson, Jr., 81, beloved husband of Alice Dowdle Thompson for sixty years, went to be with the Lord on Friday, March 14, 2008. A service celebrating his life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 17, 2008 at Big Stevens Creek Baptist Church with Dr. Phillip T. Burden officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Born in Kershaw County, South Carolina, Mr. Thompson was a lifelong resident of Edgefield County. He was a member of Big Stevens Creek Baptist Church for over 65 years. He was an active deacon and choir member and had served as treasurer, Sunday school teacher and RA leader. Mr. Thompson was also an active member of Gideon's International, was involved in ministry for the Edgefield Federal Prison and served in various capacities with the Edgefield Baptist Association. Mr. Thompson's career as a licensed optician in the Augusta area covered more than 40 years and included affiliation with the American Optical Company, Murphy & Robinson Opticians and Optical Lab of Georgia. He was also a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, having served in Japan. Throughout his working life and well into retirement, he was an active supporter and coach of youth baseball in North Augusta. Additional survivors include four children, Nancy T. Minyard (Jacky)of Waynesboro, Charles B. Thompson, III (Beverly), of Appling, Robert J. Thompson (Diane) of North Augusta and Pamela T. Fort (Steve) of Owensboro, KY; four siblings, Sara T. Holt of San Deigo, CA, John J. Thompson of North Augusta, F. Marion Thompson of Homer, GA and Eva F. Thompson of North Augusta; eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister Marietta T. Wylie of Chester, SC. Active pallbearers will be his grandsons Heath Ruffner, Charlie Thompson, Benji Thompson, Chris Fort, Casey Thompson, Justin Thompson and Kyle Thompson. Honorary pallbearers will be Deacons of Big Stevens Creek Baptist Church and members of his Sunday school class. The family will receive friends at Rowland Funeral Home from 4:00 to 6:00 this afternoon. Memorials may be made to Big Stevens Creek Baptist Church, 1850 West Martintown Rd., North Augusta, SC 29860; Wimberly House Ministries, Inc. P.O. Box 50, Waynesboro, GA 30830 and Hospice Care of South Carolina, 510 Augusta Rd. Suite B, Edgefield, SC 29824. Visit the registry online at www.rowlandfuneralhome.com . Rowland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The Augusta Chronicle-March 16, 2008