Nancy was born on Thursday, March 20, 1941 in Blair, South Carolina to Bleach and Ida (Hopkins) Thompson. She peacefully left this earthly life on Friday, January 31, 2020 at Summit’s Trace Healthcare Center in Columbus. She had been under the compassionate care of Kindred Hospice since October 2019.
The youngest of a very large family, Nancy was named after her paternal grandmother, but was known as Tillie by her family because she had several cousins her age, who had also been named after Grandma Nancy. Before she was born, tragedy visited the Thompson family when four older siblings perished in a fire. Not much is known of this event because understandably, the family rarely, if ever, spoke about it. Tillie spent the first 14 years of her life on her family’s farm in Blair. The farm was on land left to her father by her grandfather, Bun Thompson, who in the late 1800s, became the first black landowner in Fairfield County, South Carolina. Her early life centered on chores around the house and the farm, playing with an extended family who all lived close by, and attending Gethsemane Baptist Church in Blair. It was there at Gethsemane, a church her grandfather helped build, where she was baptized.
In 1956, she moved to Columbus, Ohio with her mother. Although she had family from back home who now lived in Columbus, the transition was very tough on her. She was already a shy teenager, but now she was this 15 year old girl, who only new southern country living, attending high school in an urban setting in the north. She was often teased for her southern accent but she persevered. After attending Columbus East High School, she transferred and graduated from Columbus South High School in 1959. After briefly living in Philadelphia where most of her older sisters had settled, and Washington DC with her Aunt Nettie, she returned to live in Columbus.
In the late 60’s, she began what would be her life’s career as a Surgical Technician. She was trained and certified at Mount Carmel Hospital on the west side of Columbus. She worked her entire career for Mount Carmel Health, except for a short stint at the Ohio State University Hospital in the 80s.
In 1971, she married Gilbert Hall and to this union was born a son, Benjamin in 1974 and a daughter, Rachel in 1975. After they divorced, she found herself a working single mother, raising two young children. She was a hard worker, a loving mother, and strict disciplinarian. She joined Bethany Presbyterian Church in the early 80s where her Aunt Liz and Uncle Lex had been longtime members. Their support was invaluable to Tillie and they became surrogate grandparents to Benjamin and Rachel. She made sure that her children knew and stayed connected to family in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and South Carolina.
She was proud of her South Carolina roots. She frequently reminded her children about their rich lineage. She bragged about being first cousins to the Hopkins brothers who owned Tip Top Cleaners on Long St. She taught her children the value of hard work, responsibility and treating others the way you want to be treated. She enjoyed listening to the music of Motown (especially Smokey Robinson), gardening, snacking on red grapes and Cheez-Its, and hosting Christmas Eve dinner with her children and grandchildren.
Tillie was preceded in death by her parents, Bleach and Ida; sisters, Willie B Young, Mary Ruth Nivens, Doris Crumpton, Rev. Helen Williams Richardson, Essie Goodwin and Shirley Harris; brothers, Jerome “Joe” Thompson, O’Bear “Frank” Thompson and Dolphus Thompson, Sr., special aunt and uncle, Lex and Elizabeth Chisholm.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Rev. Benjamin Hall (Dana) and Rachel Stovell; grandchildren, Dominique Stovell, Donell Stovell, III, Jeremiah Hall, Darius Stovell, Hannah Hall and Isaiah Hall, great-grandson, DeAngelo Monti, Jr.; brother-in-law, Lindbergh Goodwin of Philadelphia, PA, and a host of cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.
Visitation 10:00AM and Funeral Service 11:00AM Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Family Fellowship Church, 4410 E. Johnstown Road
My condolences to you and the family i pray that God gives you all comfort and strength in this time of bereavement in Jesus mighty name amen
Ben (Dana), Rachael and Family!
Our hearts are heavy and our love/prayers are with you all at this time. We serve a comforting God who will never leave nor forsake you in this time of need.
To Ben, Rachael and the Hall Family! My condolences to you and yours, I’m sure your Mother is in God’s hands smiling and very proud of how you’ve become. God bless you.
Dear Ben, Dana and Rachael,
Please accept my condolences and my prayers with the recent loss of your dear Mother. She was the greatest neighbor and friend. She often made me smile and laugh and shared many stories of her life growing up in the South as she watched me garden. She often spoke about the flowers I would plant that they reminded her of her mother’s flowers and and gardens. I know that Christ has welcomes her home.
I was so sorry to hear of the passing of your Sweet mother Nancy. You and your family will continue to be in my prayers in the days to come. Truly,
We are saddened to learn about your Mother passing. Continue to rely on God and know that he hears your prayers, because he cares for you. Truly sorry for your loss.
I was so sad to hear that my Aunt Tillie passed, she was my favorite Aunt of all my Dads sisters, she will be missed so very much. Love to all, Melanie