Mrs Sara Alise Thompson Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Remembrance: Sara Alise Martin Thompson She devoted her life to God, her family, her church, her community, and teaching- and loved them all. Sara was born in Birmingham, Alabama and had two sisters and a brother. She graduated from Woodlawn High School and went to the University of Alabama where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She began teaching in Huntsville, AL where she married David Paul Thompson and they were married 55 years. She taught school 7 years in Huntsville, where she had her two sons, David Paul (Jr.) and Daniel. She moved to Tuscaloosa, AL where she then had her daughter, Dawn, and taught kindergarten 9 years. During this time, she earned her MA in Education while teaching and being a full-time mom. In 1983, the family moved to Foley, Alabama where she taught one year at Bayside Academy and then began teaching 2nd grade at Foley Elementary School, where she was quickly awarded Teacher of the Year, introduced Read Across America Day and received many other honors. Sara loved teaching and had a passion for helping all the kids, and she ended every school day with a hug from every one of them. She went on to earn her Principal Certification, the PHD of Teaching, and she taught specialized reading before retiring from Foley Elementary after 20 years. Even after retiring she remained close friends with many teachers and kept up with all her previous students. Sara was also heavily involved in her church and community through the years. In her church she has been in the Presbyterian Women’s Group, a deacon, session member, Clerk of the Session, she helped with the LOGOS program, directed Bible School, and taught children’s Sunday School. She served on the South Baldwin Education Foundation, was the PTA president, P.E.O., served on the Library Board, and in Friends of the Library where she managed the bookstore. Additionally, she served in multiple teaching honor societies including Kappa Delta Pi and Delta Kappa Gamma where she was a member of for over 40 years. One of Sara and David’s favorite activities was spending time with their life-long friends in the same Supper Club for over 40 years. Sara is survived by her husband David, her children David Thompson Jr (Christian), Daniel Thompson (Ursula), and Dawn Haviland; her grandchildren Alexis Thompson, Micah Thompson, Bailey Thompson (Amber), Colby Thompson (Paige), Paul Shelton, Justin Shelton, Samantha Hawkins (Gavin), and Peyton Haviland; her sister Sherry Stopke (Stan), her brother Scott Martin, her sister in law Suzanne Dew (Tony) and her nieces and nephews Cindy Suggs (Steven), Robert Blackburn, Doug Stopke, Dane Stopke (Jamie), Richard Martin, and many grand nieces and nephews. Sara’s devotion to her husband, children, and grandchildren was beyond comparison. Of all her many accomplishments through the years, one of her most notable ones goes back to the spring of 2000 when Sara, with the help of her 2nd grade social studies class, began a project that developed into the City of Foley Kid’s Park. With much help from the community with lobbying, fundraising, and construction, a new state of the art Kid’s Park was built in March 2001. Sara was a true Christian and she lived by example, she has raised a wonderful family, and has taught so many students throughout her career. She has faced many health challenges the last several years, but in spite of all of this, and with the help of her husband, she persevered and remained a pillar in the church, in her family, in her community, and she was loved by all. The family has entrusted Pine Rest Funeral Home with arrangements. In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Friends of the Foley Library. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Magnolia Springs Community Hall.

Mrs Sara Alise Thompson

June 23, 1942 - July 16, 2022