Mary "Penny" Thompson

Mary “Penny” Johns Thompson passed away peacefully in her sleep at home Sunday, November 13th, 2022. Born on the 28th of November 1939 in Miami, Florida, she was the daughter of William Bryant Johns and Myrtle Holbrook Johns of Tifton, Georgia. She was the youngest of four sisters: Virginia, Dorothy, and Betty. Penny graduated from the University of Georgia in 1961 and taught elementary school in Atlanta. Later, she became a substitute teacher in DeKalb County and taught kindergarten at Briarlake Baptist Church for many years.

Penny was married to Kenneth Earl Thompson for 61 years and had two sons, Kenneth Thompson Jr. “Chip” and James Bryant Thompson ”Jimmy” and one daughter, Katheryn Elizabeth Stallworth. She had nine grandchildren; Joy, MaryKaitlyn, Krista, Joshua, Talia, Annalise, Kenneth III “CJ,” Emily, and Abigail.

Penny loved the Lord and instilled a love of Jesus and Bible study in her children. She was a member and past president of the Breckenridge Garden Arts II club. Penny was a gifted artist who enjoyed oil painting with her friends in the Briarlake Baptist painting class. She loved spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren who affectionately called her “Penn Penn.”

Services will be held Friday, November 18th at 10 AM at A. S. Turner & Sons Chapel, 2773 North Decatur Road. Visitation at 9:30 AM. Burial will follow service at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to Briarlake Baptist Church, Samaritan’s Purse, or the Wounded Warrior Project.