Rufus Franklin Thompson
He married
Born: 1898
Birthplace: Van Zandt County, TX
Death: 1965, Wills Point, TX
Father: Joseph Benjamin Thompson\
Mother: Metter Jane Waggoner
Spouse: Vera Mae Groom
Vera Mae Groom
(b. 1903 d. 1972)
{Parents-Augustus Byron and Emma Elizabeth [Flowers] Groom.
Both are buried in the Elm Grove Cemetery, Van Zandt County,
TX.
Children:
Horace Emery Thompson
(b. 1921 Van Zandt County, TX d. 1944 in Pisa, Italy).
Buried in the Elm Grove
Cemetery, SW Row 20, Lot 3, Van Zandt County, TX. TEC 5 439AAA AW BN CAC. WWII.
Full military services were held on December 1, 1948, with Reverend Harley
Groom, officiating.
(2) Vicka Cheryl Hudspeth , Married William Larry Payne, Four children.
(3) Alecia Re'nee Hudspeth, Married Terry Lee Morgan . Two
children: Christopher David Morgan and Amber Re'nee Morgan
Pastor twenty-five
years. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary-Diploma in Theology on
May 17, 1963. He attended Baylor College, 2 years, graduated from Eastfield
College, awarded the degree of Associate in Arts and Sciences on May 20,
1982. Three children:
(1) Phyllis Gene Thompson,. Married first Richard Wayne Moore, (divorced).
Four daughters:
(3) Horace Allen Thompson
(1) Dennis Wayne Thompson,. He married first, Ann
Dial, (divorced). One daughter. Stephanie Nicole Thompson,
Stephanie married first Brian Toole, on there was one son, Cody Alan Toole,
(divorced). Second husband Steven Fite. Two children. Cade
Fite, and Cain Fite, Dennis' second marriage to Peggy Barron
Ruthledge, ( divorced ) born to this union. Nathaniel Richard Thompson,
(1) Jo Jeannine
Thompson, She married Robert Griggs Holland . Two
children were born to this union. Sarah Marie Holland, and
(2) Rhonda Shannaha Worth, She married Steven Douglas Breito
(divorced). Two children: Steven Douglas Breito II, He
married Crystal Gail Harrison. Steven and Crystal have one daughter, Cameron
Haley Breito, Michael Ryan Breito.
Second marriage to Carolyn Ruth Sanderson (divorced). Carolyn Ruth
had two sons. Randall adopted the sons. They are: Walter Wilson
Thompson and Randall Leslie Thompson.
Third marriage to Kathy Norene Goodpaster, (Parents: Stanley Elmer
Goodpaster and Florence Benton Branham) Two children: Callie Arlene
Thompson
Dawn Michele
Thompson, Dana Kelly Thompson, Nelda and Joyce Worth adopted (Adopted by
Grandmother Vera Mae Thompson and after her death in 1972), Sherri Lynn
Barnhill, (This child was adopted by Junior and Ann Thompson and re-named
Sabrina Thompson). Jon Geoffrey Barnhill, Samir Ramon Barnhill
Mama was born in the Phalba and grew up in Phalba and Old Bethel
Communities. Few people know that Great Grandfather Johnny Flowers
donated one acre of land to build the Phalba Church where it is standing today.
We kids attended schools from one end of the county to the next, from Whitton,
Mono, Bright Star, Mabank and Canton. It would be impossible for me to
list all the schools, but I have a sister Nelda who can. You see the kids
living in the rural areas attended schools in the country. The grades
taught were from the first to the eighth, after that, you rode a school bus
into the city to high school. We walked to school everyday, sometimes three
miles or more. Cold weather or hot, it didn't matter. In 1949 or
1950, the little rural schools were all closed and the children were bused into
the city.
We attended church on Sundays somewhere near by. Before I came along, my
older brothers, so I've been told, always wore white suits to church. As
I mentioned earlier, we were very clean. Mama made all our clothing, even
our coats, so I'm sure she must have made those white suits for the older
boys. And we ironed (with flat irons) everything except the
dishtowels. She told us nighttime stories and I'm going to include a copy
of one of the stories, which was told over and over again for many years.
Not long ago, my sister Nelda found a copy of this story in one of her
grandchildren's books and mailed it to me. So this portion of the family
book would not be complete without the story of, "The Little Match
Girl", by Hans Christian Andersen.
Daddy not only farmed with the help of my brothers but on Saturdays, he went to
a little feed store in the Wise Community and cut the men's hair (The farmers
who couldn't get to town). Now you know where I'm going with this story,
he not only cut the men's hair we girls had our turn with the barber scissors
also. We tried to hide, but that didn't work either. We never liked
the way he would cut our hair. Now this is funny but when I was a teenager
it wasn't funny at all.
The little girl's feet were now blue with cold as she wandered, miserably cold
and hungry. She clutched a matchbox in one hand and a bundle of matches
in a tattered piece of cloth in the other, but she had not sold a single match
all day. By now lighted lamps were appearing in many of the windows, and
a delicious smell of roast goose ready for New Year celebrations filled the
frosty air. People brushed past the little girl as they hurried to their
warm houses with presents and parcels of food, smiling and calling "Happy
Christmas" to one another through the snow.
Snowflakes settled on the little girl's hair, and at last, faint with hunger,
she sank into a corner between two houses. She grew colder and colder
even though she tucked her frozen toes under the hem of her ragged dress and
hugged them hard. She was too scared to go home without selling any
matches and now her hands were almost frozen too. Dare she light just one
match to warm her fingers? She struck one on the house wall. The
light sprang up and the little girl held her fingers over the flame, picturing
a huge stove with a bright warming flow. She stretched out her feet to
warm them. Then the flame went out. The stove vanished and she held
only a burned-out match in her hand.
She struck a second match on the wall that became transparent behind the tiny
flame. She could see inside the house where there was a table filled with
good things to eat. The little girl sniffed the warm cooking
smells. Suddenly she could see a roast goose flying towards her complete
with a knife and fork. Then the match spluttered and went out, and she
found herself staring at the cold gray wall again.
The little girl lit a third match and now she was inside the room, sitting
under a beautiful Christmas tree covered with silver balls and bright flowing
candles. Her hand reached out to touch them. As it did so, the
match went out. The Christmas candles shot up into the sky and turned
into stars. Then one of them fell back to earth.
"Someone is dying," the little girl whispered when she saw the star
fall. "I remember my dear kind grandmother telling me before she
died that a soul goes to heaven whenever a star falls from the sky."
She lit another match. In the first bright burst of light, her
grandmother appeared, her eyes shining with love and tenderness.
"Oh grandmother," the child cried, "don't disappear like the
warm stove, the roast goose and the beautiful Christmas tree! Take me
with you. Please take me too."
The next morning, in a corner of the city between two houses, the little girl
was found with her feet still tucked beneath her and a tiny smile on her frozen
lips. In her hand she clutched an empty box.
Alice Nadine Thompson
( b. 1924) She married Doyle Franklin Hudspeth (b. 1943
d. 1997), Three children.
(1) Gwin Doylene Hudspeth, Married Gerald Leland Pate. They have one son,
Danny Gerald Pate. Danny married Ann Elizabeth Teel,. They have two
children, Amber Elizabeth Pate and Seth Daniel Pate
Jerry Wayne Payne, married Susan Lee Graul, They have two boys, Jeremy Payne
and Jordon Payne, Donny Lynn Payne, married Amy Louise Patterson , three
daughters, Chelsey Suzanne Payne,Paige Taylor Payne and Summer Kaye Payne,
Andrea Nicole Payne,Married Christopher Corona. They have three children,
Brittain, Andrew and Breeana. John David Payne, He married Magaly
Ventura. They have one son, John David Payne, Jr.
The Reverend Willard Allen Thompson
Married Billie Maurine Sapp, (Parents:
Clinton Sapp and Elsie Winegar (Shelton by adoption). He attended Mabank High
School. Served in the military from August 1945 until December 1945 and
was stationed in California. Licensed to the ministry August 1950 by the
Mt. Calvary Baptist and was Ordained September 24, 1950.
Dreama Gaye Moore, married Michael Robert Cooper, born to this
couple two children, Michael Robert Cooper, Jr. Amanda Paige,
Rhonda Wayne Moore, Married Ronald Louis Jones, by her Grandfather Rev.
Willard Allen Thompson, born to this couple one daughter, Catilyn Marie Jones,
Robin Lynne Moore,. Married first, Desmond Storm, (divorced), born to
this couple, Kendall Reed Storm, and Mason Troy Storm, Second marriage to
Lonnie Button, who had two daughters; Heather Rene` Button, and Brooke
Taylor-Jo Button.
Summer LaDawn Moore, Married John Jordon
Phyllis' second husband James Powell,
(2) Willard Brent Thompson, married Nancy Jane Miller, . Two children:
Amy Nicole Thompson, married Aaron Fitzgerald,. They have two children, Lauryn
Taylor Fitzgerald, and Cole Briggs Fitzgerald, Eric Brent Thompson, (b.
1979 d. 2003), married Leila Tai Burch,
Rufus Franklin Thompson, Jr.
Married Annie Florence Jones. (Parents: Ivan
Jones and Hattie Hunt). Junior served in the military service from 1946
to 1949, stationed at Carswell A/F Base, Ft. Worth, TX and Randolph A/F Base,
MS, and Germany.
Three children:
(2) Deborah Elaine Thompson, married Billy Edward Coker (divorced).
Two children: Ashley Re'nee Coker, and Jeremy Daniel Coker,
(3) Sandra Jean Thompson, She married Gary Lee Mills,
divorced Born to this union. Marissa Dyan Mills, Marissa
served in the Army Reserves from 1994 to 2000. She is attending the
University of Texas at Dallas. She has an Associate Degree from Richland
College in Dallas. (4) Sabrina Thompson (adopted child)
Joe Erwin Thompson
Married Barbara Jean Cheek (Parents: Will Cheek
and Barbara Black Cheek). Four children:
Justin Robert Holland. Bob is a computer software
developer/programmer. Jo Jeannine says that she has been teaching
approximately 20 years in Highland Park ISD (3 years) and Mesquite ISD the
rest. She teaches AP Spanish IV and V, and honors Spanish III.
(2) Melanie Marie Thompson,. She married first Willie Joe
Metcalf, Jr. (Divorced). One child: Joshua David
Metcalf. Second husband Michael Glenn Wisdom, Born to this
union. Jennifer Lynn Wisdom, .
(3) Ramona Rachelle Thompson, She married first Phillip Bryon
Rogers, (divorced ). One child. Phillip Bryon Rogers
II, Second husband William Felix Hernandez, (divorced ).
Married third husband Jimmy Brook Hill , Jr.
(4) Tonya Thompson, She married Julian Delgado
(divorced). Two children: Heather Marie Delgado and
Christopher Joel Delgado
Roberta Joy Thompson
Kenneth Clark Ferris and I were married in the First Presbyterian Church, 1000
Penn Street Ft. Worth, TX.. Dr. Dan Goldsmith was the Associate Pastor at
that time and performed the marriage ceremony.
Nelda Alene Thompson
Married Joyce Lynn Worth, (Parents: Alonzo William
Worth and Evie Worth). Four children:
(1) Cheryl Lynn Worth,
She married Richard Aiello, Jr. Two children: Richard Aiello, III
and Lee William Aiello, Lee William has one son- Damion Lee Aiello,
(3)Teresa Joyce Worth, She married first John Clifford Wilson, (d.
1985). Second marriage to Tommy Russell Miller,
Two children: Tara Bailey Miller and Taylor Orion Miller, . (divorced ).
Married third husband James Franklin Thomas,
(4) Lee Darron Worth, He married first Michelle Woolsey,
(divorced). Born Tesla Akemi Worth, Second marriage to Cindy
Saferight,
(5) Dana Kelly Thompson Worth (adopted ) He married Sherry Lee Ann Frank
on May (Her parents: Ret. Mayor Roylance John Frank, Jr. & Elsie Dianne
Monroe). One child, Devin Nicholas Worth.
Melba Lurlene Thompson
( b. April 28, 1936, stillbirth). Buried in the
Elm Grove Cemetery, SW Row 20, Lot 4, Van Zandt County, TX.
Randall Groom Thompson
, Married first Carol Jean Bledsoe
(divorced). One son. Randy Gene Thompson, He married Annette
Rene' Nichols . Two children: Monetta Nicole Thompson, and Nicholas
Montgomery Thompson,
and Katie Elizabeth Thompson,
Patsy Ruth Thompson
There were five children.
Linda Lou Thompson
(Lynda) Married first James Ray Greer (divorce).
Second
marriage to Clifford Noel Taylor (Parents: Clifford (NMI) Taylor and Elsie
Marie O'Dell Taylor).
Two children:
James Randall Greer,
Tammi LaJuan Greer, married Anthony Scott Gloden,
Memories
By: Roberta Thompson Ferris
1/26/2002
Rufus Franklin Thompson, born September 1, 1898, died August 9, 1965, was the
son of Joseph (Joe) Benjamin Thompson and Metter Jane Waggoner. Daddy was born
and grew up in the Elm Grove Community, Van Zandt County, TX. He had six
brothers and one sister, all who are deceased at this time. His brothers
were: Doc, Tull Oliver, Jodie Thurmon, Emery T, Jewell T. and Wilford Gordon,
and the sister Rooky Jane who died about 1898, the year Daddy was born.
He married Vera Mae Groom on August 22, 1920. Parents: Augustus Byron [Gus]
Groom and Emma Elizabeth Flowers. She had six brothers and three
sisters. Her brothers: Horace, Johnny, Fred, Jerome, Jesse and
Truman. The sisters: Dora and Lillian.
They lived in the Whitton Community as farmers on the Coleman-Miles farms as
well as severals in other adjoining communities and counties. The pasture
was always greener on the other side of the road to Daddy because we moved and
moved and moved. They provided for us the best that they knew how.
We were never hungry or dirty. He raised mostly cotton, corn, and lots of
vegetables. During the summer a lot of canning, in mason jars, took place
to feed the family during the winter months. They did not have tractors
or the modern day equipment, but used horses to pull the equipment. They
also had chickens, hogs and cows. My Mother was a wonderful cook; she
could make the best chicken and southern style dressing, chocolate pies (for
Sunday dinners) and candied yams, all of which could easily win a blue ribbon
every time. Mama loved flowers. So there were always flowers in the
garden. We never lived in one place long enough to have flowers in the
yard.
The Little Match Girl
Hans Christian Andersen
One New Year's Eve many years ago, it was almost dark and bitterly cold.
Snow had been falling heavily all day. A little girl with bare head and
bare feet struggled along the streets through the deep snow. She wore
only a ragged dress and a thin black shawl pulled tight round her
shoulders. When she left her home that morning she had been wearing
shoes, but they belonged to her mother and were far too big for her. As
she hurried across the street to get out of the way of a cart, the shoes
slipped off. In a moment they were lost under the thick snow in a crowded
street, and she never found them again.
Quickly she lit every single match in the bundle to keep her grandmother near
her. They burned so brightly that night turned into day, as the
grandmother held out her loving arms and pulled the little girl to her.
Gently they flew up into the air together, higher and higher, to a place where
there would be no more hunger or troubles ever again.
"How sad," the people said. "She tried to warm herself
with her matches. Poor little girl."
They did not know that the little girl was smiling because she had seen a
beautiful vision as her spirit soared away on that New Year's Eve so long ago.