Mrs. Rebecca Thompson passed away from this earthly life on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Replogle-Lawrence Funeral Home, located in Medina, Tennessee, will be providing the services for Mrs. Thompson. The visitation will take place on Friday, March 20 at the funeral home between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM. The funeral will happen on Saturday, March 21 at Oak Grove Methodist Church in the Edison community. Visitation will be held again from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, and the funeral service will commence at 1:00 PM (both at the church).

Mary Rebecca Parker was born on September 30, 1940, in the Pleasant Plains community of Madison County to parents Lallie Mae Eubanks Parker and Robert Lynch Parker. She lived and worked on the family farm with her ten siblings. Later, the family moved to a new family farm in the Antioch community, located on the edges of Gibson and Madison counties.

Rebecca was married to her loving and devoted husband, the late Robert Marion Thompson (1938-2024), for sixty years, and they resided in the Edison community on the family farm from 1963 to 2024. She is survived by her sons Robert Reginald Thompson (wife Lisa) of Nashville and Andrew Joseph Thompson (wife Angie) of Burns, Tennessee. Her grandchildren are Andrew Harris Thompson and Anna Elizabeth Thompson of Burns, Tennessee. Rebecca was preceded in death by husband Robert M. Thompson, mother Lallie Mae Eubanks Parker, father Robert Lynch Parker, sister Margaret Travis, sister Joyce Burt, brother Robert “Buddy” Parker, sister Linda Parker, sister Amy Jowers, and brother David Parker. Mrs. Thompson’s surviving siblings are Susan Willis, Sarah King, Jerry Parker, and Teresa Cole. Additional surviving family members include three brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Rebecca was a devoted and loyal family member who cared deeply for her loved ones.

Rebecca graduated with honors from North Side High School in Jackson, Tennessee in 1958. She was an active and accomplished student, including playing the baritone horn in the marching band. After high school, Miss Parker attended and graduated with honors from Union University, earning a bachelor’s degree with an education emphasis. Later, she obtained her master’s degree from University of Tennessee at Martin.

One of the many ways that Mrs. Thompson positively impacted the world was as an educator. She shaped and molded young minds as a teacher at Dyer School and at Gibson County High School for thirty-five years, teaching several English classes, ranging from 7th grade to 12th grade. Rebecca taught language arts, literature, writing, art, and speech communication, and she became one of the most revered and honored educators in western Tennessee. Mrs. Thompson was chosen as the Gibson County Teacher of the Year, the West Tennessee Teacher of the Year, as well as earning other recognitions and awards. After retiring from being a high school teacher, she taught writing composition at Dyersburg State Community College for five years. Her positive impact as an educator on her students’ lives is nearly immeasurable. Additionally, Mrs. Thompson was a member of the teaching sorority Delta Kappa Gamma for more than fifty years, including becoming a Forever Rose recipient of Tau Chapter in October of 2025. She was also a dedicated member of the Gibson County Retired Teachers Association.

In retirement, Rebecca continued to help countless persons and pursued her loves of spending time with family and friends, writing (a published poet), painting, traveling, gardening, shopping, singing, and studying the Bible. She was a faithful member of Oak Grove Methodist Church, including serving as the church’s pianist for several years, and being a Sunday School teacher as well.

Rebecca made the world a much better place with her love for others, keen intellect, selfless giving, and setting standards for excellence. She fulfilled God’s plan for her life to the utmost! To honor her memory, please consider donating to the following groups: 

Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarship Fund

Attention: Vera Jones

312 Highway 79N

Humboldt, TN 38343

Gibson County Retired Teachers Association Teacher Grant Fund

Attention: Linda Holmes

109 E. Armory Street

Trenton, TN 38382