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Matt "Big Matt" Thompson Jr.
Born: 6/15/1931
Died: 12/17/2021
Age: 90
Community: Flint, MI
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Matt Thompson Jr. (Big Matt) was born June 15,1931 in Okolona, Mississippi to the union of Matt Thompson, Sr. and Annie Mae (Cox) Thompson. Matt, Jr. was raised in the harsh realities of a racially segregated time period, especially in the state of Mississippi, which offered limited opportunities. He was an unapologetic man who quickly grew tired of the stereotypes that society placed upon him and the men in his community. These obstacles drove Matt, Jr. to want a greater change in his life. Matt’s goal was to get out and to make a change, so he hopped a train and got the hell out of Mississippi!
He migrated to the industrialized North and begun working for the railroad company. A short time later, he navigated his way further North to St. Louis, Missouri where he gained employment at the Studebaker Car Factory. Shortly after moving to South Bend, Indiana, Matt, Jr. met the love of his life, Ruth Mae Thompson. They were married in 1952. During this union they were blessed with 11 children. In December 1963, he moved his family to Flint, Michigan where he started working for General Motors in January 1966. During his tenure there, he was assigned to the Buick, Chevrolet and Flint Truck Assemble Car Factory until he retired in March 1994. He was also a member of the Region 1-D Local 598, a member of Eureka Lodge No. 16 F. & A.M., Prince Hall Affiliation whose motto is “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way (Psalms 37:23).
He grew up as a kid during the Jim Crow era where black folk couldn’t drink out of the same water faucet as whites. During his life he saw and witness many monumental changes in America; from the march of Selma, the million-man march, to a black man becoming President of the United States. Matt Jr. and the Thompson family loved and appreciated the love, care, and attention given to him by Ms. Shirley Evans. He will be fondly remembered as “Big Matt” an uplifting, caring, yet stubborn man who loved, protected, and provided for his family. Most of the time, Matt worked three jobs at a time. He worked in the factory, did construction work, and everybody knows what his other job was! He loved the lottery. "Big Matt" lived a good life!! It is through Matt’s personal stories and life-long example of a father that his children know that he was a phenomenal black man.
Matthew Thompson Jr. departed this world on Friday, December 17, 2021. Preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Mae; his sons, Mercius, Nathan, and Kim Victor; his parents, Matt Thompson, Sr. and Annie Mae (Cox) Thompson; six siblings, Andy Thompson, James Lee Thompson, Elbert Thompson, Dorward Thompson, George Thompson, and Inet Hill.
Loving and precious memories of his life are cherished by his family; three daughters, Melanie Renee (Kime) Haywood, Shyron Lynn Thompson, Pymaler Ann Thompson; five sons, Adaraian (Sharon) Thompson, Dexter Lee Thompson, Eric Erwin Thompson, Matthew Shawn (Stephanie) Thompson, Dominique Donatello Thompson; one sister, Thelma Gardner; one brother, J.D. Thompson, his beloved daughter-in-law Traci Thompson and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, family members and friends.
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12/23/2021 |
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| Funeral Service |
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12/28/2021 |
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4:00 PM |
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Legacy Funeral Chapel
2518 Delaware Ave
Flint, MI 48505Get a Map to this location...
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