Willie Thompson

Letha Thompson, age 92, of Artesia, NM, passed away on Friday, April 16 in Roswell, NM.

Services will be held at 10 am Friday, April 23, 2021 at Terpening & Son Chapel in Artesia.
Visitation will be from 12-5 pm Thursday at Terpening & Son Mortuary.

Minister Jarrod Earl will officiate at the services. Burial will follow the services at Woodbine Cemetery.

On November 16, 1928, Letha Thompson was born to Robert Weaver and Willie Mamie Sanders in Jacksonville, Texas. She went to school at Fred Douglas High School in Jacksonville and spent two years of college at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas.

She married Oscar Elmer Thompson on September 9, 1946. She worked as a teacher assistant with the Artesia Public Schools for 25 years. She also served as family book-keeper from 1960-1965 and from 1972-1987.

As a member of Thompson Chapel Christian Methodist Church she served as secretary to the stewardess board, Sunday School Teacher, Church Secretary and bookkeeper, church records clerk, director/coordinator of church programs, district conference teacher, liaison for the Bishop/Church, Sunday School Superintendent, local missionary president, vice president Arizona-New Mexico Annual Conference, President of Laymen's Council, director/coordinator of church programs, and district conference teacher. At Bethel she served as teacher of Bethel Mission, Assistant Secretary to Missions and as Church At Announcement Clerk, and as church programs coordinator.

In the Community of Artesia, she served as PTO Secretary, Den Mother of local Cub Scouts, Secretary on Artesia Public Library Board, Member of People's Commission of Criminal Justice, Disabled American Veteran's Auxillary.

She served 22 years as Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star Subordinate Chapter. She served 10 years as the Grand Worthy Matron of Prince Hall Chapter, O.E.S. Prince Hall Affiliated, New Mexico Jurisdiction. She served 48 years as a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

She was President of the Keeping the Dream Alive Organization which started with a vision in the year 2000. She served in that capacity for 8 years, and with help of membership and Artesia City Council, the Dr. M.L. King, Jr. Recreational Complex of Artesia came to fruition.

She is a member of the Artesia Association of Educational Retirees, American Cancer Drive, Muscular Dystrophy, Heart Fund, Lung Foundation, Meals on Wheels, also instrumental in getting out the votes for school, city council and governmental elections.

Letha has received accolades from the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women, Eddy County Woman of the Year, Recipient of the Artesia Historical Museum and Arts Center Foundation Living Treasures Award.

Letha's hobbies include reading cooking, Bible Study, crosswords puzzles, game shows, walking, baking, writing speeches and doing plays.

Her greatest joy is Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, her precious family members and time spent together as family.

Those left to eternally treasure and cherish memories of Letha are spouse Oscar Elmer Thompson, daughter, Linger N. Thompson Stearns and husband Riley Stearns, Gary Michael Thompson, and Brent O'Neal Thompson and wife Brenda Stewart-Thompson, grandchildren Jahrika Graham Ri'chard, Ramses L. Thompson, Julian Brevin Thompson, great-grandchildren Juedeja Ri'chard and Mikayla Ri'chard.

Preceding in death are her parents; sisters Lola Perry, Dora Peoples, Raye Givens, Charlie Marie Childress; brother Booker T. Sanders; sons Jerry Elmer Thompson and Tommy Verette Thompson.

Pallbearers will be Robert T Hickman III, Louise Vizcarrando, Ernest L. Buckham, Ron McKnight, Harun Williams, and Floyd L. Bell.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Don Brewer, Ron Moore, Burgess Francis, Emanual Mathis, Riley Stearns Jr., Ramses L. Thompson, and Julian Brevin Thompson.


The family of Letha Thompson would like to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Ashley Rivers, Dr. Jeffrey Ash, Dr. Debra Sapaugh, Dr. Joesph Salgado, Dr. Laqi Raja, Randy Mcguire, J&J Home Health Care, and Encompass Home Health.