Mary Rebecca Parker Thompson

Mary Rebecca Thompson, born Mary Rebecca Parker on September 30, 1940, in the Pleasant Plains community of Madison County, passed away on March 10, 2026. The daughter of Lallie Mae Eubanks Parker and Robert Lynch Parker, she grew up working on the family farm alongside her ten siblings, first in Pleasant Plains and later in the Antioch community on the border of Gibson and Madison counties.

In 1963, she married Robert Marion Thompson, and together they shared sixty devoted years on their family farm in the Edison community until his death in 2024. Rebecca is survived by her sons, Robert Reginald Thompson and his wife Lisa of Nashville, and Andrew Joseph Thompson and his wife Angie of Burns, Tennessee. She cherished her grandchildren, Andrew Harris Thompson and Anna Elizabeth Thompson of Burns. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and siblings Margaret Travis, Joyce Burt, Robert “Buddy” Parker, Linda Parker, Amy Jowers, and David Parker. She leaves behind her surviving siblings Susan Willis, Sarah King, Jerry Parker, and Teresa Cole, along with brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A gifted student, Rebecca graduated with honors from North Side High School in Jackson in 1958, where she played baritone horn in the marching band. She earned her bachelor’s degree with honors from Union University and later a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin. For thirty-five years she taught English, language arts, literature, writing, art, and speech at Dyer School and Gibson County High School, touching countless young lives. Her dedication earned her recognition as Gibson County Teacher of the Year and West Tennessee Teacher of the Year. After retiring from high school teaching, she taught writing composition at Dyersburg State Community College for five years. A member of Delta Kappa Gamma for more than fifty years, she was named a Forever Rose recipient of Tau Chapter in 2025 and remained active in the Gibson County Retired Teachers Association.

In retirement, Rebecca found joy in family and friends, writing as a published poet, painting, traveling, gardening, shopping, singing, and studying the Bible. A lifelong member of Oak Grove Methodist Church, she served as pianist and Sunday School teacher. She will be remembered for her deep love for others, keen intellect, selfless spirit, and unwavering commitment to excellence.