It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved daughter and sister, Anne Caryl Thompson. Annie, 38, entered the larger life on Nov. 22, 2019 after a long and courageous struggle with drug addiction and mental illness.
Annie was a kind person with a great capacity for empathy and was fiercely loyal to her friends. She had a wide and inviting smile that lit up a room, was quick to laugh, loved music, to sing and, especially, she loved to dance. She was fun to be around, naturally put others at ease, was funny and lighthearted. Annie had a happy childhood and grew up in Jackson surrounded by a large group of raucous girlfriends with whom she was close into adulthood.
She loved to camp, especially at music festivals, and was a master at setting up a tent. She enjoyed the beach and being in the sunshine generally; she worked diligently on her tan every summer and her skin was always glowing. She was at her happiest on summer evenings, sitting on the porch in a rocking chair, smoking and enjoying a beer, chatting with a friend.
Annie was a beautiful, creative soul. When she attended Ohio University Chillicothe, Annie was active in the drama department and was a talented actress, performing in several productions. She enjoyed making jewelry and had a small hobby business selling it.
Annie was born Aug. 5, 1981 in Mount Vernon, Ohio. She was a Class of 1999 graduate of Jackson High School. At the time of her death, Annie was living in Huntington and pursuing her life-long dream of a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Communications from Marshall University. Despite her significant history of trauma and loss, Annie’s legendary stubbornness served her well, returning her over and over again to diligently work for her degree and her independence. Annie was a great optimist and believed fervently that all people could grow and heal.
Annie is survived by her father and stepmother, David and Teresa Thompson of Jackson; her sister, Susan (Jon) Gabert of Chattanooga, TN; her brother, Mack (Laura) Thompson of Jackson; her stepbrother, Jeremy (Tara) Lahrmer of Oak Hill; her stepsister, Lisa (Tyler) Brown of Oak Hill; one niece, Kassady; three nephews, Alex, Noah, and Murphy; and a large extended family including many aunts, uncles and cousins.
We, Annie’s family, have struggled alongside of her, and hoped and prayed for many years for her healing. We were blessed by the time that we did have with her, and are devastated by her loss.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Caryl Thompson; special friend, Guy Cole; and three children lost to miscarriage.
A funeral service will be held this Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019 at 1 p.m. at the Lewis & Gillum Funeral Home of Jackson. Annie’s cousin, Pastor Dave Perkins of LifeBridge Church, Baltimore Ohio, will officiate. Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home prior to the service. Directly following the service, Annie will be interred beside her mother at Fairmount Cemetery in Jackson. Online condolences may be sent to www.lewisgillum.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in Annie’s name to W4C Recovery, P.O. Box 56, Jackson, OH 45640 or www.w4cHOPE.org
If you are struggling from addiction or mental illness, suffering the effects of trauma or complicated grief, know that every breath is a new chance. Know that hundreds of thousands of families like ours who have lost someone to these diseases are praying and rooting for you. We believe, as Annie always did, that you can heal.