Mr. Billye G. Thompson Sr.

THOMPSON, Mr. Billye, Sr. - Age 81, passed away Sunday, December 2, 2012 at Fountains at Franklin in Southfield, MI. Family hour 1:00 p.m. Saturday, December 8, 2012 at Woodside Church, 1509 E. Court Street, with funeral service commencing at 1:30 p.m. Pastor Kendall Brown officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 1:00 p.m. Saturday. Mr. Thompson will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday. Mr. Billye G. Thompson, Sr. was born December 17, 1930, in Osceola, Arkansas. He was the youngest of four children of the late Elijah and Curlie Anne Jordan Thompson. The family moved to Little Rock when he was five years old where he received his elementary and high school training. Billye’s undergraduate training was at Arkansas A. M. & N. College, now named University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where he earned a B.S. Degree in Mathematics. After completion of his undergraduate training, Billye moved to Flint, Michigan in the spring of 1953. He was employed by Buick Motor, a division of General Motors for six months before being drafted into the U.S. Army for 2 years. After being released from the service he returned to the Buick factory and worked two years before being laid-off. He began his teaching career in mathematics at Emerson Jr. High School in 1960. He received a Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan in Guidance and Counseling in 1966. Billye was assigned to Central High School as a Personalized Curriculum Program Counselor in 1967. He became one of the first Staff Specialists in the school district in 1968. At Central he advanced to Assistant Principal in 1969 and Deputy Principal in 1970. He was appointed Principal of Bryant Junior High in 1975, and served as Principal of Northwestern High School from 1978 until his retirement in 1991. Billye married his childhood sweetheart, Laura Jean Jones, on June 3, 1956. She moved to Flint and became a music teacher at Jefferson Elementary School. This union produced three children. Unfortunately Laura Jean passed away on November 24, 1993, which devastated the family and the Flint community. During his years as Principal and after he retired, Billye served on several boards and community groups while living in Flint: the Board of the Flint Urban League; he was a Dansforth Fellow; Board member of the Michigan High School Athletic Association; Deacon and Trustee at Woodside Church; Board of Directors of Youth Leadership Institute; Flint Executive Service Corps; and Valley Area Agency on Aging. He was an active member at Woodside Interdenominational Church. He spent his leisure time golfing and travelling with friends to several golf resorts. Billye was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. He leaves to cherish his memory: children, Billye Jr., and wife Verlonda of Northville, MI; daughter, Lauretta, and husband Ray of Silver Spring, MD, son, Lance of Temple Hills, MD; grandchildren, Sydney Jean of Northville, MI, Tredale Kennedy, Jr. and wife, Jill of Denver, CO, Sapphyra and Ena, both of Silver Spring, MD; sister Ellora Conley of Luxora, AR; sisters-in-law, Rosemary C. Ward, and Kathleen Jones both of Flint, MI; and a host of nieces, nephews, numerous cousins, adopted daughters, special neighbors, and wonderful friends. Mr. Thompson was preceded in death by his wife; parents; sister, Valdora Thompson Yancy; brother, Joseph Elijah Thompson; brothers-in-law, Jesse Ward and Samuel P. Jones, and other close family and dear friends. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that if you feel so moved, please consider making a donation to the Billye G. Thompson, Sr. Scholarship Endowment Fund to VR3 Events, P.O. Box 4111, Southfield, MI 48037.

Mr. Billye G. Thompson Sr.

December 17, 1930 - December 2, 2012