Joy Thompson

Joy Sallee Thompson, 57, of Little Rock, went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 19, 2019. She was dearly loved by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lewis E. Thompson, Jr. and Claire Sallee Thompson, and her brothers, Lewis E. Thompson III and Robert L. Thompson. She is survived by her sister, Toss Worthington, her three nieces and one nephew whom she adored like they were her own, Patricia Thompson Johnson, Elizabeth Thompson Horowitz (Scott), Claire Sallee Tucker (Geoffrey) and Hunter Benson (Shelby), and a special former sister-in-law, Janet McAdams. When Hunter and Claire would play tennis matches, Joy would always be found at the tennis courts. It was often said that she was their biggest fan and she truly was! Joy was also wild about her great-nephews and nieces, Harrison Porter Tucker, Hadley Claire Tucker, Ryder Cruz Benson, Austin Jaxon Benson, Isadora Claire Horowitz and the one on the way, Lewis Joseph Horowitz.

Joy had so many close friendships that she cherished from high school classmates to college buddies, fellow faculty members, former students and so many others. She spoke so fondly of many of them and tried to keep up with them on Facebook until the day she left us. There has never been a more avid Central High Tiger fan on this earth than Joy! For many years, you would find Joy at every Central sporting event, whether it was a home game or one played miles away. Joy also loved the Razorbacks and the Dallas Cowboys. All who knew Joy would say that she was extremely witty, the life of every party, and the one who others always wanted to be around! Joy touched so many lives and did so much good for so many people. Selfless was a word that describes Joy as she would give so much of her time to tutoring students on her own time. Many were not even her own students but she was happy to help anyone. Many a student would tell her that they didn't like school until they had her as a teacher. Her classroom was always filled with students during the lunch hour coming to see her and getting a dose of Joy's love for them. This world will not be the same without Joy in it but we are all certain that she is in a much better place now.

There will be a visitation on Saturday, March 23, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at Little Rock Central High School with a celebration of her life to follow at 2:30 p.m. in the Roosevelt Thompson Auditorium.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Roosevelt Thompson Memorial Scholarship Fund or the Missions Fund at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 1831 S. El Camino Real, Encinitas, California.

Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., (501)224-2200. Joy's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.