Feb. 11, 1954 – April 20, 2016

NATCHEZ — Services for Ronnie Thompson, 62, of Natchez, who died Wednesday, April 20, 2016, at University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Springfield Baptist Church in Natchez.

Burial will follow at the church cemetery under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

Mr. Thompson was born Feb. 11, 1954, in Natchez, the son of William and Opal Elaine Blackwell Thompson.

He was preceded in death by his mother; his grandparents, Clinton B. and Annie Sue Blackwell; one aunt, Glinda Collier; one uncle, Douglas Hathaway; and one niece, Stephanie Eidt.

Survivors include his soulmate and wife, Betty “Polly” Thompson; one daughter, Kari Denise Thompson Werst; one beloved granddaughter, Emma Erin Werst; his stepfather, Bobby McGuire; his mother-in-law, Bettie Edwards; one brother, Donnie Thompson and companion, Beverly Lawley; two sisters, Barbara Wiley and husband, Allen “Shorty” and Deanna Slay and husband, Earl; two aunts, Carol Thorpe and husband, James, and Janice Hayles and husband, Bobby; two uncles, Michael Blackwell and wife, Susan, and Roy “Buddy” Blackwell and wife, Rose; a number of nieces and nephews, Allen Wiley and wife, Gabrielle, Bobby Lee Wiley, Summer Thompson, Zachary Baker, Danny Eidt and children, Karrigan, Cole and Kaylee, Karen E. White and children, Hayden and Harley; and a number of family members and friends who he considered family.

Mr. Thompson was also survived by his special companion and pup, Rowdy Thompson.

Pallbearers will be Ralph Cox, Allen Wiley,Zachary Baker, Jamie Thorpe, Garrett Thorpe and David Ozburn.

Honorary pallbearers will be Chris Franks, Ashley Cox, Joshua Werst and Justin Foster.

Special thanks to the Cox family for their generosity and for being a part of our family and to the medical and nursing staff, specially Dr. Cameron Guild and the nursing team in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at UMMC.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society or to umc.edu/givenow to donate to one of the multiple charitable areas at UMMC.