Mr. Early James Thompson was born on July 29,1944 to the late Aurelia Oakley and Alex Moses Thompson of Lauderdale County, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Mr. Alex Thompson Jr., Henderson Thompson, Eugene Thompson and Felix "Fletcher" Williams; sisters, Florine Williams and Shirley Howard. He departed this life on October 3, 2015, surrounded by his family at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital. He accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of Smithsonia Church of Christ, where he remained a member. Early was united in matrimony to Sazzie Armstead Thompson in 1967 and celebrated 48 years of marriage. He leaves to cherish his memories: his wife, Sazzie Thompson; five children, two sons, Elvis (Gayla) Thompson of Pensacola, Florida and Bradley (Tynethia) Thompson of Florence, Alabama; three daughters, Aretha Abernathy, Greta (Eartis) Bridges and Ronita Thompson, all of Florence, Alabama; thirteen grandchildren and two great-granddaughters; three sisters, Martha (Hoke) Hampton of Florence, Alabama, Alma Embry and Doris Cloud of Lima, Ohio; three brothers, Jack (Lucille) Thompson, Leander "Toe Bo" (Willa Sue) Thompson and Hugh L. Thompson, all of Florence, Alabama; one aunt, Lucy Irons; four sisters-in-law, Mrs. Brenda (Floyd) Robinson of Mableton, Georgia, Mrs. Patricia (Earnest) Groves of Austell, Georgia, eleven brothers-in-law, Mr. James Gibson, John (Mildred) Armstead, Alex (Betty) Armstead Jr., Frank (Sherry) Koger, all of Florence, Alabama, Harrison ( Karen) Koger and Jerry Koger, both of Atlanta, Georgia, Larry (Monica) Koger, Felix Armstead, Charles Armstead, Kenneth Armstead and Alexander Armstead, all of Lima, Ohio; one uncle, Charlie Johnson Sr. of Florence, Alabama; devoted friends, Willie and Barbara Jones; and a ost of nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends.