Ernestine (nee Millsap) Thompson affectionally known as “Tina”, was born to Georgia J. and Maxine (nee Chapman) Millsap on November 23, 1946 in Bay Springs, Mississippi. She passed away on Sunday, September 6, 2020. Tina was the youngest of six children.
She accepted Christ at an early age and joined New Zion Baptist Church in Bay Springs, MS. Tina started singing at the age of three. The entire family sang in various locations under the name, “The Millsap Singers”.
Tina attended Bay Springs Elementary School and graduated from Bay Springs Mississippi Vocational High School in 1964. She was on the basketball team during her grade school and high school years. She also sang in the school choir during those years, and competed in several choir competitions.
Tina moved to Joliet, IL where she became a member of Mt. Zion Baptist. Church. At Mt. Zion she continued singing in the Angelic Choir and the Voices of Zion. She also sang as a soloist, served as director and teacher of songs for the choir, and the Women Chorus, where Sister Geraldine McDonald was the Pianist. She sang for various organization, the Lebanon Baptist District Association of Joliet and Vicinity, as-well-as Baptist General State Convention of IL. She was a member of the Mission Ministry. Tina modeled and made garments for fashion shows throughout the Joliet area.
Tina united in Holy Matrimony on August 7, 1965 to Robert H. Thompson, and they celebrated 55 years of marital bliss. The lovely couple went on to have two beautiful children, Cary Thompson, and Charita Temple.
Tina worked as a babysitter. Later she was employed at the Post Office, St. Joseph Hospital as a Nurses Assistant, and she became a certified cosmetologist at Ella Mae Beauty School.
Tina also worked at First Midwest Bank where she also retired from. Tina owned and operated her hat business, “Fashion’s On Top” with her best friend, Pat Gaddy.
Tina was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Sellas and Leroy Millsap; sister, Melva Ducksworth-Jukes; nephews, Greg and McKendly Ducksworth; nieces, Shantel Bouie, Monica McClain, and Renee Ducksworth; and her aunts and uncles.
Tina leaves to celebrate her legacy and cherish her memory: her loving and devoted husband of 55 years, Robert H. Thompson; one son, Cary Thompson, and one daughter, Charita Temple; two sisters, Erma Shelby and Dorothy Henderson; six grandchildren, Cha'NequaStevens, Ke'Ante (Tiea) Stevens, Jovan Thompson, Ke'Shaun Stevens, Ke'Arra Stevens, and AnesiaMontgomery; three great grandchildren, Allen Michael, Judah J. Stevens, and Zayne O. Stevens; one aunt, Chandle (“Millsap”) Arrington; god-daughters, Ann Holmes, Tamiika Newsome and Jasmine Gaddy; godson, Antoine Shelby; extended family, James Temple; best friends, Geraldine McDonald, Barbara Robinson, Bette Fryar, Karen Barnes and Brenda Ducksworth; her Mt. Zion Church Family, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and countless of dear friends.
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