Janet Arletha Jerald Thompson, aged 84, died peacefully in her sleep on May 20, 2017, after a long and heroic struggle with Alzheimer's disease. She was preceded in death by her first-born son, Anthony Pedro Thompson, in 1981.

Janet was born on August 7, 1932, the daughter of Cranell Jerald, who raised her with his wife, Peccola Jerald. As a young girl, Janet was both an honor student and an athlete. She played guard on the Hilly Branch High School basketball team and graduated in 1949 as Class Valedictorian.

After high school, she married James Pedro Thompson and furthered her education at Coppin State Teacher's College in Baltimore, Maryland, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1957, and a Master of Education from Loyola (College) University in 1973.

Gifted with striking beauty, both inside and outside, her deepest passion, besides her tremendous love and devotion to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, were her children to whom she sacrificed her all to be a great mother. She taught by example the importance of always doing your best. But in addition to meeting the needs of her own children, the compassionate nature that she had towards all people allowed her to share generously with hundreds of students, during a career with the Baltimore City Public Schools that spanned 35 years as a teacher and top administrator. Along the way, she received numerous awards and was recognized as one of the most highly-respected educators in the system.

During her working years, she was an active member of All Saints Catholic Church, where she became a Eucharistic Minister administering communion to the sick and shut in. One of the highlights during her years at All Saints was a trip to Rome, Italy to visit the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica, where she toured the Sistine Chapel, observed the Holy Mass with thousands of others and shook the hand of Pope John Paul II.

In her later years, she investigated her ancestry and discovered to her amazement the identities of other family members from whom she had been separated since childhood. After retirement, she returned to Lumberton in 1996, where she enjoyed the rich blessings of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, creating a lifetime of lighthearted and funny moments during games of Spades, holiday dinners and crab feasts at Holden Beach. She rejoined Hilly Branch Missionary Baptist Church, where she was active in the Health Ministry, educating others about the importance of maintaining a healthy blood pressure.

Her many sacrifices and hard work have rewarded her with four surviving children: Gwendolyn P. Nelson and husband Lawrence (Columbia, MD); Rosalyn M. Hamlett Dove and husband Jay (Union City, NJ); her devoted caregiver Schawn P. Thompson (Lumberton, NC); and Kimberly J. Green and husband Leonardo (Woodbridge, VA); 10 grandchildren; four great-children and a host of nieces and nephews. She is also survived by two brothers: Cranell Junior (CJ) and Larry Jerald, both of Detroit, MI; and was also preceded in death by a brother, Collin Jerald.

A time of visitation will take place on Saturday, May 27, 2017, prior to the service, from 10:00-11:00 AM at Floyd Mortuary & Crematory, Inc.

Following the visitation, a funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM at Floyd Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at the Thompson Family Cemetery on Old Highway 74, where she will be laid to rest beside her beloved son Anthony.