Family News - Latest & Archives

07.27.07 — "Lindy" & Marie Thompsons' Family "Tidbits" and other success stories...

'06-07'  has been a mixture of sadness and enormous blessings:

• Our oldest sister, Laverta, (Velma Myers) went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 14, 2007.
• Peggy's neice Tiffany graduated high school this year and is headed to the University of Maryland.
• Vera's grandson Aaron Hamilton (son of Gary and Beverly) graduated high school and is headed to the University of Maryland.
• Dad's (Lindy Thompson's) only brother Andrew Jackson's grandson, Destin Blake graduated high school and is headed to University of Tennessee, where he received a full scholarship; he plans to major in Art. Destin's art work was unveiled and is on exhibit at a downtown park.  The event was fully covered in a local newspaper. Kudos to Destin.
• Andrew's other grandson, Zachary also graduated with honors from high school. Zachary's commencement speech was FANTASTIC. Needless to say Zack received a full scholarship to George Washington University (Kansas City, Mo.) 
• The "Knot": Vera's granddaughter Jessica, who graduated from American University in 2006, surprised the family by announcing her upcoming wedding via mySpace.
• Barbara and Clyde's granddaughter Brittany has taken a sabbatical from the University of Mississippi to persue a second career as a rap artist. Her debut album (CD), "Black Tuesday", is scheduled to drop sometime in July... So listen up! She made the front cover of a local newspaper in April.
• Harold auditioned for "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?". He didn't make the cut but still wants to be a millionaire. 
• Ashley Street, Sharon & Darryl's oldest daughter, graduated from Hampton University ('05), then went on and received a Masters in 2006 and is currently enrolled in nursing school. 

Kudos to these Thompson 'Offsprings'...

11.30.06 — Ho, Ho, Ho! Happy Holidays, Family!

Happy Holidays to you and yours. I hope that you are well. I just wanted to request your prayers for our cousin Vernell Savage (Pete's daughter), who is working in Africa on an assignment. She now has at least one more piece of her luggage and is adjusting to the language barrier. (Read more about it!) As soon as Vernell gets back and rested, we'll get some of her pictures from the 2006 reunion on the website. If you missed it, you missed a treat! I'll share more details later... (smile!)

Our cousins Doris and George Haley are in Gambia, Africa visiting friends.

I also heard that Diane Sweet-McMillan's son James, better known as "Semaj" will be deployed soon to Iraq, so please lift him up and all our men and women in the armed forces in your prayers. Currently Semaj is stationed at Ft. Hood.

Happy 50th Birthday to Leslie Taylor, daughter of Bill and Phyllis Taylor. Leslie's family went to Roanoke, VA. to celebrate her birthday. Happy Birthday to all the family members that have recently celebrated another birthday!

Congratulations to the new homeowners! Aunt Bernice's children, Jayan, Diane, Jay and Robert celebrated Thanksgiving in Jayan's beautiful new home in Atlanta. Also, The BFT President, Robert Milton is no longer working in Atlanta and is back in Maryland, in his beautiful new home with his family!

11.24.06 - From Cousin VERNELL SAVAGE:

Subject: Day 1 from Africa
Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2006 15:10:41 -0500

Hello All,
Today I start my 25 day adventure in North Africa. I left Maryland yesterday on my flight at around 6:00 which was scheduled to leave at 3:12. Therefore I missed my connecting flight out of JFK for Paris. I was able to get on a 9:00 flight out of JFK. The flight from BWI to JFK was on a little prop plane and it got a little rocky at the end. I was about in tears by the time it landed. A young girl sitting across the aisle from me reached over to hold my hand. I got to JFK and you had to walk a mile to catch the connecting flight including going outside and then back through another security check point. I finally got on that plane and it was not what I expected. If you have large hips you are in trouble. The seats were small and tight.

I did get a nice little dinner on the plane with a nice bottle of wine. It was a nice flight. Then I got to the Paris airport. I got there at around 10:30 and my next flight was due to depart at 11:35. I had to ride 3 different shuttles and walk a long way up and down flights of stairs carrying 2 heavy bags. One a carry on and the other my laptop bag. I finally reached that plan at about 11:25. We took off on that flight and it was okay, a few bumps here and there. They gave me a nice little lunch time meal with another bottle of wine. I finally got to my destination and as I was getting off the plane I met one of my co-workers who was sitting in front of me all the way from Paris. We went through customs and then on out to get our baggage. Well guess what, no baggage for me, and no baggage for my co-worker. They gave me 400dh to buy a few items that I might need to get me through until tomorrow when they say my baggage should arrive. They still expect me to go to work tomorrow and all my work attire is in my missing baggage.

The hotel is very nice and I have a very nice view from the balcony outside my room. We went to dinner at some American restaurant and I was going to play it safe and I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich. I have never had a piece of chicken so tough. I did get to see a little of the Ravens/Pittsburgh game.

I'm here with no TV so you all will be hearing from me on a regular basis.

Vernell

05.19.06:

Ms. Roberta Cunningham, the daughter of Emma Savage and step-daughter of our Family Treasurer, Pete Savage, passed away on Tuesday, May 16, 2006 in Alabama following a short battle with breast cancer. Services for Roberta will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2006 in Alabama.

In addition to her immediate family, Roberta is survived by her daughter, Tammy of Memphis, TN and a son, Reggie of Florence, AL. She also leaves her loving step-sisters, Vernell and Vanessa and her step-brothers, Terrell and Gerald Savage. Roberta attended the Barton-Fields-Thompson Family Reunions in Denver, CO and South Bend, IN and she always expressed that she wanted to come again to future BFT reunions.

Please keep Emma, Pete and the entire family in your prayers during this time. If you wish to send a sympathy card to Emma and Pete Savage, the address is:
P.O. Box 171 Sheffield, AL 35660

05.19.06:

Congratulations to Glenarven Robbins, Tamika Robbins, and Walter "Trey" Thompson for their upcoming graduations! Glenarven is graduating from high school on June 2, and plans to attend Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbara, CA on a football scholarship. His aunt Tamika has earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, and is now looking to pursue a career in law enforcement. Cousin Trey will graduate from preschool and is preparing to start Kindergarten.

04.04.06:

Robert "Duke" Person passed away on April 3, 2006. "Duke" as he was affectionately called by the family, resided in Charlotte, N.C. and is the 19 year old son of Robert Sweet and Kathy Person and grandson of the late Bernice Sweet. Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 8, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at the Long Mortuary on Batties Ford Road in Charlotte, N.C.

Sign Robert's Memorial Guestbook »

IN THE NEWS: http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/14268535.htm

04.04.06:
At this time, I do not have the address that sympathy cards may be mailed to Kathy and Robert. We will provide you with that information as soon as possible. Robert Sweet may be reached by cell phone at (704) 712-2642.

Please keep Robert, Cathy and the entire family in your prayers during this time. We also pray for travel mercies for Jayann, Diane, Jay and other family members traveling to Charlotte for the services.
—With a heavy heart, Claudia Smith, BFT Family Secretary

04.05.06:
Keep Robert and Kathy lifted up in prayer. The Charlotte News said this morning that Duke was in stable condition but I guess he really is since he is with the Lord. James and I are heading to Charlotte on Friday, as early as possible. Cathy lives off I-77 at the Double Oaks exit, you'll make a right at the top of the exit ramp, and go to the next light make a right turn and look for a Funeral home on your left in the next two blocks or so. At that corner you will make a left turn. When you go down that street it will dead end into the street they live on. The house is directly in front of you. Robert got a cellphone down there today: 704-712-2642. Cathy's sister's name is Donna Nolan and her cell number is 704-333-4643. Long Funeral home is holding the body... The same one that did Mommy's homegoing.
—Diane Sweet

10.24.05

Homegoing services were held for Daisy Helen Howard of South Bend, IN, who passed on Oct. 20, 2005.

10.26.05:

Get Well wishes are extended to Eric Barton, who recently underwent surgery for a torn left triceps; he will be out recovering for the rest of the NFL season.

09.26.05:

HURRICANE KATRINA & RITA NEWS:The latest bout with Mother Nature has left our country shaken up, but our family is holding strong. Mellany [Churchill] West and family are in Houston: "We are fine and the house didn't suffer any damage... Now we are on a search for groceries; we are fine, we are just shopping for things that would have spoiled if the power had been off for a long time."

09.09.05:

Glen Robbins, Jr. is featured in the Kalamazoo Gazette and the Herald Palladium! (Click on 9/9/05: Kalamazoo Area)

08.28.05:

George and Doris Haley celebrate milestone birthdays...

04.01.05:

The Family Contact List is now available...

07.22.04:

Get Well wishes are extendedto Jean Wrice of Lorain, Ohio as she recuperates from a recent surgery.

04.13.04:

It's a GIRL!
Jevon Williams welcomes his new baby daughter into the world... More coming soon!

03.07.04:

Eric Barton signs to the New York Jets (pdf)