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Rev James Shelby Thompson

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Rev James Shelby Thompson

Birth	:	31 Jan 1909 Tennessee, USA
Death	:	16 Oct 2003 Trenton, Gibson County, Tennessee, USA
Burial	:	Oakdale Cemetery, Irvine, Estill County, USA
Coordinate	:	37.6894000, -83.9566500
Description	:	James Shelby Thompson, son of Wayne and Emma Thompson, was born in Gibson County near the small rural community of Nebo, Tennessee, on January 31, 1909. Wayne and Emma were loyal Methodists and hard-working farmers. They raised Shelby with a burning passion for Jesus and a strong love for farming that stuck with him all the days of his life. Shelby took Mary Opal Wylie to be his wedded wife on September 24, 1938. The couple followed through on the grace of God and became very active in Christ's holy church. He was a tall, stately, Spirit-driven man, called into the... Read More	James Shelby Thompson, son of Wayne and Emma Thompson, was born in Gibson County near the small rural community of Nebo, Tennessee, on January 31, 1909. Wayne and Emma were loyal Methodists and hard-working farmers. They raised Shelby with a burning passion for Jesus and a strong love for farming that stuck with him all the days of his life. Shelby took Mary Opal Wylie to be his wedded wife on September 24, 1938. The couple followed through on the grace of God and became very active in Christ's holy church. He was a tall, stately, Spirit-driven man, called into the ministry in 1946, and licensed to preach in the Memphis Annual Conference the following year. He enrolled in the Course of Study School at Emory University, became a Deacon in 1952, an Elder in 1954, and an Associate Member in 1969. God gave Shelby and Opal two children, Jimmy and Joyce, and a love for home and family, but Opal was very sick. Shelby had pledged his constant faith and abiding love to Opal,and he truly gave it in sickness and in health. He was renowned for the affectionate care and devotion he gave to her during her long illness. Death split their marriage on January 15, 1973. Shelby continued to follow in the way of the Master, and his home life soon surged forward. One of his church members for eleven years was Wilma Thornton Sims. Shelby and Wilma married on August 15, 1974. She was a lifelong member of Grier's Chapel UMC, but she left there to go with him everywhere he went. A few words cannot reveal their devotion to Jesus, to each other, and all their accomplishments, but they served together in a vital and fruitful ministry until he retired in 1979. Retirement was nothing more than an illusion or a momentary lull in this godly man's life. Shelby was reappointed for two more good years. And, after that, because everyone knew they would hear a great sermon when he stepped behind a pulpit, and because he had gained the respect of multitudes, he was very busy filling in, holding revivals, speaking at homecomings, performing weddings, and preaching funerals. People loved to hear him preach because he was grace-filled, he walked the walk, he was very down-to-earth, he stuck to the Bible, he was full of patience, and he displayed a wonderful sense of good, clean humor. Wilma died on August 10, 1994, but Shelby continued to preach and farm. On January 31, 1999, at the age of ninety, he preached his last sermon. At the age of ninety-two, he performed his last official act as a pastor, a wedding. His loving family cared for him at home until his death on October 16, 2003. Shelby's favorite scripture was, "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity" (I Cor. 13:13). He was buried at Bell Vernon Cemetery at Friendship, Tennessee, with Rev. Daymond Duck and Rev. Wayne P. Holmes officiating. Survivors include: Jimmy and his wife Nancy McVay; Joyce and her husband Kenneth McEwen; Jimmy's son Stephen (wife Amanda, two daughters, Shelby Lynn and Haley); and daughter Cindy (husband Dale Prater and son Austin); Joyce's son Tim (wife Amy and son Samuel); Keith (wife Dee Ann and son Grant); and Jeffrey (wife Ginger). --Daymond Duck Printed in the Memphis Annual Conference Journal of the United Methodist Church in 2004

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Rev James Shelby Thompson's memorial?
Rev James Shelby Thompson's memorial is located at: Oakdale Cemetery, Irvine, Estill County, USA.
When did Rev James Shelby Thompson death?
Rev James Shelby Thompson death on 16 Oct 2003 in Trenton, Gibson County, Tennessee, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Rev James Shelby Thompson's memorial?
Latitude: 37.6894000
Longitude: -83.9566500

Family Members:

Parent

Wayne W Thompson

(1876 - 1967)

Emma Isbell Lemons Thompson

(1876 - 1944)

Spouse

Opal Wylie Thompson

(1914 - 1973)

Children

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Oakdale Cemetery
Irvine, Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6894000, -83.9566500

2. Pasley Cemetery
Irvine, Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7005615, -83.9738922

3. South Irvine Cemetery
Irvine, Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6833130, -83.9790330

4. Scholl Family Burial Grounds
Irvine, Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7016600, -83.9770100

5. Old Irvine Cemetery
Irvine, Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7024470, -83.9762410

6. Griffin Cemetery #1
Irvine, Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7033005, -83.9332962

7. Miller Cemetery #1
Irvine, Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7089005, -83.9325027

8. Miller Cemetery #2
Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7094440, -83.9330560

9. West Irvine Cemetery
Irvine, Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7017800, -83.9909200

10. Cow Creek Cemetery
Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7066994, -83.9122009

11. Chestnut Stand Cemetery
Irvine, Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7273700, -83.9432700

12. Brinegar Cemetery
Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7192001, -83.9167023

13. Estill County Cemetery
Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7327995, -83.9642029

14. McGeorge Cemetery
Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6624985, -84.0010986

15. Lackey Cemetery
Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7332993, -83.9681015

16. Barnes Cemetery #1
Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6749992, -83.9028015

17. Marcum Cemetery #1
Irvine, Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7347100, -83.9617300

18. Johnson Cemetery
Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6869011, -84.0164032

19. Masters Cemetery
Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7318993, -83.9858017

20. Cool Springs Cemetery
Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.7397003, -83.9580994

21. Pea Ridge Cemetery
Irvine, Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6867460, -84.0213080

22. Hall Abney
Irvine, Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6865120, -84.0215440

23. Hardy Cemetery
Irvine, Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6897690, -84.0236120

24. Mount Tabor Cemetery
Millers Creek, Estill County, USA
Coordinate: 37.6691190, -83.8922250