BERNICE GAY HARMAN THOMPSON, age 78 years, a native of Randolph County and a resident of Surfside Beach, SC went to be with the Lord late Thursday evening, October 14, 2010 at the Waccamaw Community Hospital at Murrells Inlet, SC after a long battle with a degenerative disease.
She was born Sunday, October 2, 1932 at Harman, WV a daughter of the late Asa Blake Harman and Zetta Smith Harman. She is survived by her husband of fifty-three years, Robert E. Thompson, Surfside Beach, SC; two sons, Steven Thompson and wife Kristina, Myrtle Beach, SC; Jeffrey Thompson, Arden, NC; two grandchildren, Noah and Shelby Thompson, both of Myrtle Beach, SC; one sister, Kathleen Harman Varacalli, Belington; one brother in law, Denzil Thompson and wife Virginia, Belington; and four nieces, Janet Strader Lieshman, Morgantown; Renee Strader Garber, Martinsburg; Mary Thompson, Beverly; Elizabeth “Janie” Ketterman Riggleman, Valley Head.
Preceding her in death are one sister, Dr. Janet Harman Strader; and one nephew, Jerry Thompson.
Bernice was a graduate of Harman High School and the West Virginia University School of Pharmacy. She was a Registered Pharmacist working most of her career at the Memorial General Hospital. Her last employment was with Eckerd Drugs at Litchfield, from which she retired in 1997. She was a life member of the Order of the Eastern Star, was a member of the Omar Lady Chefs, the Waccamaw Ladies Shrine Club, and volunteered at Camp Happy Days for terminally ill children. She was a faithful member of the Solid Rock Baptist Church at Surfside Beach, SC and was a former member of the First Baptist Church of Elkins.
The family will receive friends at the Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel, Murrells Inlet, SC from 2 to 4 PM, Sunday. She will then be moved to the First Baptist Church at Elkins where the family will receive friends from 5 to 8 PM, Tuesday. Graveside Services will be conducted at 10 AM, Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at the Mountain State Memorial Gardens at Gilman, WV. The Rev. Dr. Marvin L. Parli will officiate and interment will follow. The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to the American Red Cross, 2795 Pampass Drive, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 or to the Shriners Hospital, 950 West Farris Road, Greenville, SC 29605. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for BERNICE GAY HARMAN THOMPSON.
