Thelma Gunn Thompson

Celebration services honoring the life and legacy of Thelma Gunn Thompson will be held at noon, Thursday, October 24, 2024, at Prospect Presbyterian Church (7876 Poplar Springs Drive) in Meridian, Mississippi. Officiating the graveside service will be Pastor Rhett Payne and Dr. Tom Sikes. The family will receive friends at 11 a.m. at Prospect. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.

Mrs. Thelma Gunn Thompson, 96, passed away October 20 at Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center following a brief illness.

Thelma will be remembered as a successful businesswoman who ran a multi-million-dollar publishing company in Meridian. She co-founded The Southern Horseman magazine in 1962, designed to feature “the love of a good horse.” It grew into the second largest Quarter Horse publication in the United States and was enjoyed by subscribers in all 50 states and 13 foreign countries. The success of The Southern Horseman spurred the creation of Thelma’s other business venture, Southern Publishing Company. At its height, Southern Publishing not only printed The Southern Horseman, but many other horse-centric publications, as well as being chosen to print the famed 1984 New Orleans World’s Fair poster.

She was known and respected throughout the horse world and gained recognition and celebrity status at every horse event she attended. As sole publisher of The Southern Horseman, she earned a Western Heritage Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Mississippi Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame.

Born in Meridian, Thelma was the only surviving sibling of seven children born to Thelma Covington Gunn and Judge Richard Harvey “RH” Gunn. Mrs. T, as she was known, was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church.

She had a strong will and an unstoppable work ethic. Thelma was an avid card player — passionate about her games! For many years, she and her family held a Tuesday night rummy game that eventually advanced to bridge. In her later years, she would play any card game, any time, with anyone who had an interest.

Thelma learned her love of nature from her mother and was an accomplished gardener.  She had an exquisite garden and yard with literally hundreds of different types of flowers and blooming trees. Her home was always a colorful show place.

She is preceded in death by her parents (as mentioned above); sons Mark Steven “Steve” Thompson, Robert Arnold Thompson and daughter Cindy Thompson Aucoin; and her sisters and brothers, Lilybel Gunn Bounds (Davis), Harvey Gunn (Eileen), Jimmy Gunn, Carolyn Gunn Shelton (Ernie), Beatrice Gunn Kinard (Billy) and Judge William “Bill” Gunn (Elaine).

Thelma is survived by her daughters, Jena Thompson Abrams and Tracy Thompson Bourgeois (Jim), both of Meridian; and grandchildren Kelly Abrams, Casey Abrams Griffin (Eli), John Cody Abrams (Natasha), Brandi Bourgeois Bland (Ryan) and Austin Thomas Aucoin; 11 great grandchildren; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers for the service are Cody Abrams, Austin Aucoin, Richard Kinard, Greg Kinard, Bruce Kinard, Ryan Bland and Eli Griffin.