Jeannine Thompson 6/03/1934 - 5/10/2021
Jeannine Thompson, a former educator with Asheboro City Schools, died Monday morning, May 10, in Asheboro, NC of natural causes. A native of Mooresville, NC and a graduate of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and an avid Tarheel, Thompson, 86, began her teaching career at Fayetteville Street School in Asheboro before moving to Bakersfield, CA, where she embarked on a 35 year career as counselor and administrator, becoming the first female principal in the history of Kern High School District. She was inducted into Bakersfield's Stockdale High School's first Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.
Popular among staff and students, Thompson, a noted photographer, was omnipresent at athletic and academic events, taking pictures of her students performing and succeeding. She moved back to Asheboro in 2013 to be closer to family and has been a member of the First United Methodist Church Asheboro since then.
Thompson is preceded in death by her father, Joe Thompson; mother, Virginia Gabriel Thompson; and brother, Dr. J. Wayne Thompson, all of Mooresville, NC. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Elizabeth Thompson, of Asheboro; her niece, Lory Beth Huffman; and her nephews, Tyre Thompson, Jeffrey Thompson, and Gary Thompson. Family will hold a Celebration of Life Service at First United Methodist Church in Asheboro, NC on May 22 at 11:00 am and a graveside service at Glenwood Memorial Park in Mooresville, NC, on May 23 at 2:00 pm. Services will be officiated by Reverend Lynda Ferguson, Reverend Edward Ramsey, Reverend Don Haynes, and Reverend Lory Beth Huffman. Memorials can be sent to First United Methodist Church, 224 North Fayetteville St, Asheboro, NC 27203, 336-625-2224.