Mary Harrell Thompson, 93, a resident of the Masonic Home of Virginia (Henrico, Virginia), peacefully departed this life on February 22, 2019.

Mary was born in Denton, Maryland to Everett Manning Chipman and Ellen Roe Chipman on September 29, 1925. She married George V. Thompson Jr. of Oak Grove in December of 1947, in Washington, D.C., and moved to Westmoreland County, where she lived for the next 50 years. She moved to Fredericksburg in 1998 and lived there until entering the Masonic Home in 2007.

She and her husband George were both employed at the Naval Surface Weapons Lab at Dahlgren, Virginia, for many years.  At home, she loved to read, and also delighted in sewing, crocheting, raising African violets, and cooking and helping her friends and neighbors in any way she could. In addition to working and caring for her family, she found time to be actively involved in the Colonial Beach Chapter of the Eastern Star, serving as Worthy Matron from 1978 to 1979. She also was a piano teacher to many aspiring young students in Oak Grove and the local area.

She was a deeply religious woman who was an active and faithful member of Oak Grove Baptist Church and later Salem Baptist Church. At differed times she served as organist, pianist, choir member, Sunday School teacher, and various other roles. As she was able, she continued teaching Sunday School and playing for church services at the Masonic Home. One of her joys was receiving the Bachelor of Bible degree in 1987, at the age of 62, from the Southern Baptist Center for Biblical Studies.  Her faith was a source of strength to her throughout her life, and her example of Christian love gave comfort to many.

Mary is pre-deceased by her husband, George V. Thompson Jr., her son Clayton Connely Thompson, her daughter Julia Ellen Thompson, her sister Carol E Friis and nephew John Friis. She is survived by her daughter Joyce Anne Thompson (Rocky Ortega), her brother in law J. James Friis, nephews Carl and Mark and niece in law Gena Friis, and many nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces.

Visitation and viewing will be held Sunday February 24, 2019 from 6 to 8 PM at Storke Funeral Home Nash and Slaw Chapel in Colonial Beach, 131 3rd Street Colonial Beach, VA 22443; an Eastern Star service will be held at 7:30 PM. The funeral will be held Monday February 25, 2019 at 11 AM at Oak Grove Baptist Church. Burial will follow at the Oak Grove Cemetery, with a reception following at the church. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Building Fund, Oak Grove Baptist Church, 8096 Leedstown Road, Colonial Beach, Va. 22443.