James "Bud" Thompson

James F. “ Bud ” Thompson, Jr .

Funeral services for Bud Thompson will be held Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at 1:00p.m. at Central United Methodist Church with Reverend John Branning officiating. Burial will follow at Magnolia Cemetery. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Thompson, 81, of Meridian, passed away November 19 at his home.

James F. “ Bud ” Thompson, Jr. was born in 1935 to James F. Thompson and Falba Wilson Thompson. A native of Yazoo City, MS, Bud moved to Meridian, MS at the age of nine and would go on to graduate from Meridian High School and attend Meridian Community College prior to joining the United States Marine Corp in 1954. During his tour of duty, he served in the infantry and was selected as a member of the Presidential Guard to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Thompson was also selected as a member of the elite Marine Corps Silent Drill Team and traveled extensively throughout the United States.  During his last year of service, he served as the Color Bearer of the USMC Battle Colors. Bud received an honorable discharge from the USMC followed by 4 years as a Marine Corps reservist while attending Mississippi State University, graduating in 1962 with a degree in Secondary Education. He went on to coach football and teach mathematics in Vicksburg, MS. Bud said he had plans to be the next Bear Bryant.

In 1954, Bud married his high school sweetheart Sue Smylie, and they would have celebrated their 62 nd wedding anniversary in December.  Together they had three children- Elease, Jim, and Russell. In 1964 he and his family returned to Meridian, MS to begin a career as an independent insurance agent, joining his father-in-law W.S. “ Bill ” Smylie and brother-in-law in the firm of Wise and Smylie.

In recent years he worked with his son Jim at their firm Insurance Solutions of MS. Bud was a 1968 graduate of the United States Fidelity and Guaranty School of Insurance and a recipient of a Certified Insurance Counselors Designation in 1980. In 2005, Bud battled cancer and lived the rest of his life as a proud cancer survivor.

Bud was also a public servant in many capacities, serving the Boy Scouts of America for 52 years, various committee boards, and as president of the Choctaw Area Council for 2 terms. He received the Silver Beaver Award in 1988 and was named the Eagle Class Honoree in 1998. Bud also served two terms as the president of the North Meridian Optimist Club and one year as lieutenant governor of Optimist International, was the first recipient of the Golden Circle Award, was named Citizen of the Year in 2009 by the Meridian Star, Boss of the Year in 1980, and inducted into the Meridian Community College Hall of Fame and the MSU Insurance Hall of Fame in 2010, received the Hartley Peavey Award for Entrepreneurial Excellen ce in 2011, and an honorary Doctorate of Public Service from his beloved Mississippi State University in May 2016.

Bud was an active member of Central United Methodist Church where he served as Chairman of the Administrative Board, Church Treasurer, and as a Sunday school teacher.

In 1980, Bud won the Boss of the Year award, where his employees said of him: “ He ’s in his mid-forties, tall and handsome.  His hair is almost all gray now. His voice is deep and authoritative. He’s gentle and humble. If you passed him on the street, you’d never guess he’s one of the world’s greatest bosses…Beneath his unassuming manner is a passionate desire to succeed and exceed, backed up by an apparently inexhaustible supply of mental and physical energy… He ’s a dedicated and sincere man. A quietly confident man.  A man who’s humble, interested in the person he is talking to, involved. He’s a man who speaks slowly and surely.  He’s a gentle man who never pushes. He’s your friend. He’s your neighbor. He’s your shoulder to lean on. He’s a helping hand. He’s the guy who’s always there when you need him. He’s our boss. He’ s Bud Thompson. ”

A longtime supporter of Mississippi State University, Bud was a board member of the MSU Development Foundation, served on the MSU Athletic Council, the National Board of MSU Alumni Association, and was the MSU Bulldog Club president for two terms. One of the highlights of Bud’s involvement with MSU happened when he was able to live out his dream as Honorary Coach of the Maroon Football Team in the 2009 Spring Game.  Maroon won 24-21, and Thompson became the first undefeated coach in MSU history! Bud and Jack Cristal are sure to keep the cowbells ringing in heaven.

Bud was a proud grandfather to 8 grandchildren who will serve as his pallbearers: Josh Thompson , Danielle Guffey , Emily Thompson , Taylor Thompson , Jamie Thompson, Lawrence Duell , Leah Thompson, and Tate Thompson.  He was also a great-grandfather to 7 great-grandchildren: Neely, Lily, Ryan, River, Graceley, Pax, and Emma. He will be loved and missed, and his family and friends are grateful for what he taught us all about integrity, marriage, faithfulness, and courage.

Bud left the church militant and joined the church triumphant on November 19, 2016 at his home with his family by his side.  Memorials should be made to Central United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Sue Thompson; children, Elease Duell, Jim Thompson and wife, Elyse, and Russell Thompson and wife, Tanya; grandchildren, Danielle Guffey, Lawrence Duell, Joshua Thompson and wife, Amanda, Emily Thompson, Jamie Thompson, Taylor Thompson, Leah Thompson, and Tate Thompson; seven great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Janie Smylie.

He was preceded in death by parents, James Franklin Sr. and Falba Thompson, and brother, John Thompson.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.

Visitation will be held Monday, November 21 from 5:00p.m.-7:00p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to service at the church.