Pethrel M. Thompson

Mom, the Center of Our Universe Pethrel May Thompson was born in Victoria Town, Manchester, Jamaica West Indies on September 17, 1922. She was the only child of Cordell Lyle Henry and John Dove. She lived much of her childhood with her grandmother, Emeline Christian Lyle. When she grew up she married Solomon A. Thompson on December 26, 1945 in Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kingston, Jamaica. They shared almost 60 years together until her beloved husband passed away in November 2005. Together they had five children, Patreece, Arthur, Zerita, Marlene and Solomon, Jr. On March 14, 2012, her first born child, Patreece, died. During the last few months, mom's own health took a turn for the worse and it never recovered. On May 3, 2012, Pethrel Thompson went home to be with the Lord. After being married and starting their life together in Jamaica, Pethrel and Solomon soon left Jamaica and traveled to England. They desired a "better life". A chance encounter (really divine intervention) with an Arthur Gonzales while mom was on her way to England, enabled them to be sponsored into the United States in 1952. Mom lived and sacrificed for her family. Her main goals were that we love the Lord, remained a close knit family, grew up with good values and principles, and received a good education. Mom was a devoted wife and mother. As we reflect on her life, so many qualities stood out. She ran the household as a shrewd business woman. She had an excellent memory, great organizational and accounting skills. She had strong values, convictions and a strong faith in Jesus Christ. To encourage us through our lives, mom would draw on the poem "Good, Better, Best. Never let it rest. Until the Good is Better and the Better is Best". Mom's seeds of wisdom did take root; because she lived to see all five children graduate from college and beyond. She also lived to see her grandchildren and great grandchildren who would carry on her legacy. For many years, mom worked as a Nursing Assistant at Albert Einstein Hospital in New York. After retirement, mom and dad moved to Philadelphia, Pa. to live with Patreece. She lived in Pennsylvania until last year when she moved to Maryland to live with Marlene, her youngest daughter. She enjoyed family outings, gatherings, movies, reading, soap operas, game shows (Jeopardy, Wheel-of-Fortune) and this past year, weekly games of dominoes with her children. These activities were some of her happiest moments and memories. Pethrel Thompson represented the epitome of unconditional love. No matter what direction we took in life, mom's doors were always open for us, to return, to regroup, to get support or encouragement, then to go back out, to press forward with her prayers to cover us. With the strength, independence and stoic characteristics that she modeled in her life, it is a blessing to see some of those qualities pass down to us, so we have something to call upon to survive and overcome. We are going to need those qualities more now than ever before since we have to tell this wonderful Lady, good bye. Mom was the center of our universe. Now she is one of the shining stars and has joined with our Lord, Jesus Christ. Her spirit continues to live in our hearts. Her memories, values and dreams will live on through us. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends and those who were privileged to know her. She leaves behind Arthur, Solomon, Zerita, Marlene and Vilma and grandchildren-Christopher, Davonia, Brian, Daniel, Solomon III (Trey), Isaiah, Heather and Kareem and great grandchildren and a host of cousins, relatives and friends. We Love You Mom! We want to thank everyone for their cards, expressions of sympathy and prayers, and to those people who were there for Pethrel Thompson during her greatest hours of need. May God forever bless and keep you in His loving grace.