Mr. Nicholas F. Thompson
October 14, 2012
Nicholas Franklin Thompson, Jr., affectionately known as NF, was born on July 5, 1936 in East Bend, North Carolina to the late Nicholas and Mae Thompson. He departed this earthly life on Sunday, October 14, 2012 at Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home.
He was a proud member of Atkins High School class of 1955 where he was an extraordinary athlete, serving as right tackle on the 1953 3-A State Championship Football Team and Co-Captain in 1954. He received the Winston-Salem Journal Newspaper Gridiron Honor in the same year and lettered in both Football and Track. He also acquired Auto Mechanics certification at Atkins. Upon graduation, Nicholas enlisted in the Army’s 11th Airborne Division where he boxed and played football. He toured Europe and was a fearless paratrooper. He loved telling stories about his experiences in the armed forces and served his country proudly.
After returning to civilian life, Nicholas worked as one of the first African American train mechanics for Northern Southern Railway, retiring in 1998. There was never a dull moment in his life as he tinkered with photography, fishing, hunting, and car restoration. He was a competitive cyclist, dog lover and an avid WSSU Ram football fan. He prided himself in the speed in which he could drive to Tennessee, with his children singing loudly, “He’ll be coming around the mountains when he comes”. Perhaps his greatest pastime was working on his lawn, which he meticulously cared for. Post retirement, he enjoyed working as a security guard throughout the city.
Nicholas was a devoted member of Goler Memorial AME Zion church where he was a member of the Men’s and Transportation Ministries. He formed a bond with Bishop Lartey and the two would greet each other with “As Per Usual”. He was inducted into the Atkins Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He was also a member of the Masonic Bivouac Lodge 503 PHA.
Nicholas leaves to cherish his memory children, Nicholas Thompson III, Lennetta T. Bartley (Joe), Tony Thompson, Nicole T. McCollum, Danielle Durham and Sherry Gwaltney (Horace), loving grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, one brother-in-law, Sonny Dockery, a devoted nephew, Rev. Bobby Smith, a host of supportive nieces, nephews, cousins and devoted friends, Edward and Betty Strait and Mrs. Constance Bradley. He was preceded in death by siblings, Gertrude T. Cunningham, Ruth T. Robinson, Hazel T. Dockery, Eula T. Smith, Paul Thompson and Arvil Thompson.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 18th at Goler Memorial AME Zion Church, Rev. Dr. Calvin L. Miller officiating, Bishop Seth O. Lartey, eulogist. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the church.
He was a proud member of Atkins High School class of 1955 where he was an extraordinary athlete, serving as right tackle on the 1953 3-A State Championship Football Team and Co-Captain in 1954. He received the Winston-Salem Journal Newspaper Gridiron Honor in the same year and lettered in both Football and Track. He also acquired Auto Mechanics certification at Atkins. Upon graduation, Nicholas enlisted in the Army’s 11th Airborne Division where he boxed and played football. He toured Europe and was a fearless paratrooper. He loved telling stories about his experiences in the armed forces and served his country proudly.
After returning to civilian life, Nicholas worked as one of the first African American train mechanics for Northern Southern Railway, retiring in 1998. There was never a dull moment in his life as he tinkered with photography, fishing, hunting, and car restoration. He was a competitive cyclist, dog lover and an avid WSSU Ram football fan. He prided himself in the speed in which he could drive to Tennessee, with his children singing loudly, “He’ll be coming around the mountains when he comes”. Perhaps his greatest pastime was working on his lawn, which he meticulously cared for. Post retirement, he enjoyed working as a security guard throughout the city.
Nicholas was a devoted member of Goler Memorial AME Zion church where he was a member of the Men’s and Transportation Ministries. He formed a bond with Bishop Lartey and the two would greet each other with “As Per Usual”. He was inducted into the Atkins Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. He was also a member of the Masonic Bivouac Lodge 503 PHA.
Nicholas leaves to cherish his memory children, Nicholas Thompson III, Lennetta T. Bartley (Joe), Tony Thompson, Nicole T. McCollum, Danielle Durham and Sherry Gwaltney (Horace), loving grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, one brother-in-law, Sonny Dockery, a devoted nephew, Rev. Bobby Smith, a host of supportive nieces, nephews, cousins and devoted friends, Edward and Betty Strait and Mrs. Constance Bradley. He was preceded in death by siblings, Gertrude T. Cunningham, Ruth T. Robinson, Hazel T. Dockery, Eula T. Smith, Paul Thompson and Arvil Thompson.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 18th at Goler Memorial AME Zion Church, Rev. Dr. Calvin L. Miller officiating, Bishop Seth O. Lartey, eulogist. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the church.