Shirley A. Thompson, 85
DOVER - Shirley A. Thompson passed away suddenly in March 2022. She was 85 years young. The third of four children, "Ann" was delivered by a midwife in February 1937 in Dover, DE to the late William Holden Sr. and late Eva Brown Holden of Dover, DE. She attended Booker T. Washington elementary school, William W.M. Henry Comprehensive High School for Colored Children, and graduated from Delaware State College with a B.S. Degree in Health and Physical Education. She began her career working as a Camp Counselor, Keene, NH, Campbell Soup Factory, Clayton, DE, Swift Chicken Factory, Felton, DE, General Metal Craft as a Machine Press Operator, Crossing Guard for Booker T. Washington School, Teacher Migrant Ministry, Clayton, DE, Teacher Head Start, Dover, DE, USO Hostess, Dover, AFB, US Post Office, Dover, DE, DAST – Dover (Driver), Custodial Worker (Billeting) Dover Air Force Base, Summer Youth Counselor for Jobs, Dover Air Force Base, Waitress Maple Dale Country Club and Colony Inn Milford, DE, Investigator II Dept. of Welfare, Dover, DE. A life-long teacher, she taught at the following schools: Booker T. Washington, Dover, DE | George W. Carver, Frankford, DE | Phillip C. Showell, Shelbyville, William Henry Comprehensive High School, Dover, DE, Caesar Rodney Jr. High school, William Reilly Brown and Star Hill Physical Education; East Children's Development Center, Oklahoma City, OK, Marion and Crisfield Elementary School, Marion, MD, Louis Reading High School, Middleton, DE, Dover High School, Dover, DE and Benjamin Banneker Elementary School, Milford, DE. In 1980 was the Teacher of the Year Star Hill Elementary, 1999 1st Woman inducted into the Delaware Afro American Sports Hall of Fame, 1978 D/A/S/A Women's Fast Pitch "Major" State Champions (played Center Field). 1997 Delaware Senior Olympics – Gold 3 on 3 Women's Basketball, 1998 Delaware Senior Olympics Silver Softball. Member Wm Henry High School, Member Delaware AFB; Past member John H. Porter – First State Chapter Tuskegee Airman chapter; and member Delaware Amalgamated Union Transit Union 0842.
After retiring from Teaching, Ann went on to continue to serve others as a Paratransit Driver for DART and Modern Maturity Senior Center.
Ann was a fun-loving, kind, generous and thoughtful soul. While it was our honor, privilege and good fortune to be able to call her Mom/Auntie/Grandis, Ann was the sort of person who not a few others thought of as a second mother. She is sorely missed already but will live forever in the hearts of countless friends and the following family members who survive her: eldest son and daughter in law William Barry and Cynthia Thompson, Fairfax, VA; second son and daughter in law Darius and Kathy Lewis Thompson, Exeter, NH. She was very proud of her grandchildren Leila, Miles, Katelyn and Jillian and great grandchild Rosie J. Other Survivors include two sisters, Delores DaLuz, Hyannis, MA and Jean Soloman, Dover, DE and Brother William Holden, Jr., Dover, DE, multiple nieces and nephews who live locally and across the country.
In lieu of flowers, plant a hyacinth bulb in your yard or you can make a donation in memory of Shirley Ann Thompson to any of the following charities and organizations: Alzheimer's Research | The Salvation Army | Dover Fire Department | Sunday Breakfast Mission | Food Bank Delaware | St Jude Hospital for Children | Smile Train | Easter Seals | Jackie Robinson Museum | Special Olympics DE | Guiding Eyes for the Blind | The Shepherd Place (Homeless Women and Children) | Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing (Homeless Men).
A Homegoing service will be held on Wednesday April 20, 2022 at 10 AM – 1 PM, Evan W. Smith Funeral Home, 5 S. Bay Road, Dover, DE.