Gracie Clorice Thompson

When I die, give what is left of me to others. If you need to cry, cry for the souls of your brothers walking this earth beside you. Put your arms around anyone and give them the love you want to give me because I want to leave as my legacy something better than words or thoughts. Look for me in the people I have known and loved. And, if you think you cannot live without me, then let me live on in the sparkle in your eyes, your bravery and your acts of kindness. You can love me most by letting hands touch hands and hearts touch hearts because love does not die. People do. So, when all that is left of me is love, please share it. Please give me away! Gracie Clorice Thompson was born December 2, 1930 to the late Hardin T. and Lonnie Earl Nance Watkins in McComas, WV. Gracie moved to Bluefield at an early age and attended Genoa High School. She had many jobs, working for GTE, YM-YWCA and retired from Bluefield State College. She also served as a foster grandparent in McDowell and Mercer Counties. Gracie was a member of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church where she served as Head of the Kitchen Committee, Assistant Superintendent of Adult Sunday School, Senior Missionary Society and Senior Usher Board. She was also a member of the Croquet Club. Other than her parents, Gracie was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Lee Thompson, daughter Constance Karen Pannell, brothers Hardin, Salem, Douglas, Wendell, Ernest, Robert Watkins and sister’s Marie and Celeste Watkins and husband Franklin and one granddaughter. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Barbara T. (Dennis) Smith, Kenneth Leo (Patricia) Thompson, Gloria J. Thompson, Gracie (Walter) Claxton, Wayne Douglas (Terry) Thompson, Toni (Wesley) Hurt, Carlton (Pamela) Thompson, 17 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and 15 great-great grandchildren, one sister, Jacqueline (James) Elliott, two sister-in-law’s the Rev. Gladys Watkins and Monica Watkins, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who were an integral part of her life. Funeral services will be conducted Friday, July 22, 216 at 12:00pm noon from the Mt. Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. James J. Palmer, III officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, July 21 from 5:00pm until 8:00 p.m. at the church and Friday one hour prior to service. Entombment will be immediately following the service at Restlawn Memorial Garden on, Rt. 20 Bluefield, WV. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 114 Bedford Street, Bluefield, WV in memory of Gracie C. Thompson. Online condolences will be accepted at www.cravens-shires.com