Garland E Thompson

Durden-Hudson Funeral Directors announces the death of Mr. Garland E. Thompson, age 90, a native of Swainsboro, GA, on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at the Emanuel Medical Center Nursing Home.

Graveside services will be Friday, June 4, 2021, at 2:00 PM in the Swainsboro City Cemetery with Rev. Casey Shaw officiating and Military Honors observed.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Pallbearers are Jerry Lawson Jr., Hiram Bobo, Michael Gunn, Trent Turner, Jody Thompson, and Duane Keil.

Mr. Thompson was born February 9, 1931, to the late Edgar A. and Iris Wilson Thompson and was the grandson of the late Eugene and Callie Youngblood Thompson of the Kemp Community.  Mr. Garland attended the University of Georgia and was a graduate of Augusta College with a BBA Degree in Management.  He served 5 years in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict, and was with E.I. DuPont and Westinghouse at the Savannah River Site, retiring after 40 years service in the Health Protection Department. While working at SRP with the DuPont Co. He wrote a musical safety program, it was photo-graphed and written up in the DuPont Magazine and performed at DuPont Plants.

He was a musician and proficient on several instruments; performed on radio, stage, local shows throughout Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and the world famous Renfro Valley Barn Dance in Renfro Valley, Kentucky.  Mr. Garland taught music for Schneiders’ Music Center in Augusta, GA, and in his home in Belvedere and North Augusta, SC for 28 years

Mr. Garland’s signature along with 45 other SRP employees was micro filmed and planted on the moon alongside the American flag due to their work fabricating the plutonium button that fueled the first moon landing.

Mr. Thompson was a tree farmer; past President of the Emanuel County Agri Business Council for 2 years, the Reubin Thompson Memorial Foundation for 5 years; and former member of the Exchange Club. He was a charter member of the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society, Nashville, TN and was a Georgia certified teacher and part time instructor at Augusta Technical College and Swainsboro Technical College.

Mr. Garland was a guitarist for the Swainsboro Presbyterian Church for 5 years, and a member of the Swainsboro First Baptist Church serving as usher, trustee, audio/tape and offering committee, and guitarist for the adult Sunday School Assembly.  In addition to his parents and grandparents he is preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jean (Lawson) Thompson; Step-Mother, Sallie Bell Thompson; brother, Jimmy Thompson.

Survivors Include:

Son: Terry Eulgene Thompson (Annette) of Douglasville,  GA

Brothers: Rev. Clarence Thompson (Mildred) of Avera, GA, and Robert “Bobby” Thompson (Wilma) of Lithonia, GA

Grandchildren: Kacy (Lt. Steven) Hucks of Norfolk, VA, and Riley Thompson (Trent Turner) of Roswell, GA

Great-Grandchildren: Haddy Hucks, Hunter Hucks and Tegan Turner.

Nieces, nephews and extended family.

Should friends desire memorial contribution may be made in his memory to the First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 828, Swainsboro, GA  30401

Condolences may be submitted on-line at www.durden-hudsonfuneraldirectors.com

Durden-Hudson Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangement for the services of Mr. Garland E. Thompson of Swainsboro, GA.

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