Reverend Wendell Louis Thompson, Sr., was born in Greer, South Carolina, on December 3, 1940, to the late Raymond Thompson and Mattie Lou Garrett Thompson. He remained rooted in the Greer community, where he had lived since 1969.

A devoted husband, father, minister, educator, and coach, Reverend Thompson shared 64 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Lillie Ann Foster Thompson. He earned a Master of Education degree and served the Greenville County School District as a teacher and coach for approximately 38 years. As a retired preacher and educator, he will be remembered for a life dedicated to faith, learning, and service.

His affiliations included Maple Creek Missionary Baptist Church, the National Education Association, the South Carolina Education Association, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Greer and Vicinity, and the Progressive National Baptist Convention.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Lillie Ann Foster Thompson; his children, Wendell Louis Thompson, Jr., Mattie Denise Thompson Long, and Ahmad Rashad Thompson (Christie Hagood-Thompson); four grandchildren; John Marcus McCullough; Briana McCullough; Trey Michael Thompson; Mila Karin Thompson; and many relatives, former students, colleagues, church members, and friends.

Services have been entrusted to Beasley Funeral Home, Greenville.