Sam Dunwoody Thompson Jr.

Sam Dunwoody Thompson Jr. passed away Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007, at his home following a long and courageous battle with Diabetes and Parkinsons disease. He was 66. Funeral services for Mr. Thompson will be Friday in Calvary Baptist Church at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Van Gauthe officiating. Burial will follow in Columbia City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at the funeral home. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Covenant Hospice, 2855 Ross Clark Circle, Suite 110, Dothan, AL 36301 or Wiregrass Parkinson Support Group, P.O. Box 6861, Dothan, AL 36302 or Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund, 901 Montezuma Avenue, Dothan, AL 36303. Sam was born Jan. 11, 1941, in Columbia to the late Sam and Sarah Thompson. He was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church and the Lamar Brooks Sunday school class. He graduated from Houston County High School in 1959 and Troy State University in 1964, and was in the first graduating class of the University of South Alabama where he earned his master in 1971. He taught in the Enterprise City school system for 31 years. At the age of 26, he became the first principal of Pinedale Elementary School in 1967, being the youngest principal in the state of Alabama. Sam was well known for his sense of humor and his stories about happenings at school. Survivors include his wife Annette Thompson of Dothan; son, Ken Thompson of Panama City, Fla.; daughter, Shari and her husband Jim Moody of Denton, Texas; step-son, Jason Davis of Dothan; grandchildren, Aaron and Alex Thompson, both of Panama City, Breanne, Wesley, Elyse and Vanessa Moody, all of Denton; step-granddaughter, Audrey Claire Faulk of Dothan. He is also survived by the mother of his children, Gwen Fitzgerald of Childersburg; two sisters, Jackie and her husband Jerry Armagost of Panama City, Ida Carolyn Ballard of Dothan; two step-sisters, Amelia and her husband Harold Rhoades of Kinston, Anita and her husband Bryan Grimes of Elba; seven nieces, four nephews and 11 grand nieces and nephews. Our deepest gratitude to our church family, Southern Clinic, caregivers, Malisa Hill-Thomas, Helen Flemings and Covenant Hospice for the love, care and support given. Pallbearers will be Aaron Thompson, Alex Thompson, Wesley Moody, Glen Armagost, Greg Armagost, Jim Matheny, Bruce Bradley and Ken Lunsford. Honorary pallbearers will be members of Lamar Brooks Sunday school class. Southern Heritage Funeral Home and Crematory, (334) 702-1712, is in charge of arrangements.