Mary Florence Thompson, of 224 Lynnolen Lane, Chattanooga, TN, died Tuesday, September 13, 2022, in Chattanooga, TN. She was the daughter of the late William Oakley Allen and Pearl Wilson Allen.

The family will receive friends and loved ones prior to the service on Sunday, September 18, 2022, from 12:00-2:00 PM at Floyd Memorial Chapel, 809 E. 5 ^th Street in Lumberton, NC. Following the visitation, a funeral will be held at 2:00 PM with Rev. Tim Williford officiating. Burial will follow at Floyd Memory Gardens, 3720 Old Whiteville Road in Lumberton, NC.

Florence was the name she used. Florence was born at home.  She was the youngest of six children. She was predeceased by three brothers: Austin, Kurt, and Eartle, and has two surviving sisters, Betty Allen Thompson and Dorothy Allen Pridgen. She was a Robeson County girl. She had a deep love for her mother and father and a special love for her nearest grandfather, James "Jim" Allen.

As a girl, Florence attended Zion Hill Baptist Church located on Hwy 41 in Lumberton, NC and Zion's Tabernacle Baptist Church on the Tarheel Road. She was baptized by Pastor Rhine in the waters of the Big Swamp.  Her grandfather Bud Wilson was superintendent over the Sunday School Dept. at Zion's Tabernacle Baptist Church.

Like most children at the time, she was raised in the cotton and the tobacco fields. This served her future family well as she inculcated her children with a strong work ethic.

Florence attended Smith's School on Hwy 41 for 12 years and played basketball there, graduating in 1952. The boys at school would tease her by calling her "Flossy".

Florence's first job off the farm was at Rayless Department Store. She worked there on the weekends and during the summer while attending high school. After high school, she attended King's Business College for one year. Then, for the next three years, she worked at Swains Grocery Store.

On December 9, 1957, she married the love of her life, Tommy F. Thompson, Sr. and they lived happily ever after along with the three sons produced from that love.