Gwendolyn S Thompson

Gwendolyn Sheffield Allred Thompson, 89, a resident of Cleveland, received the ultimate healing on Friday, May 8, 2009, when she stepped into the presence of the One who made it possible. She wanted her grandchildren to call her "Big Mama", but all who loved her called her "Big Mama" too. She was born July 4, 1919, in Athens, Georgia, to the late Henry Sheffield and Eunice Payne Sheffield. The family later moved to Atlanta and she remained in the Atlanta area until declining health caused her to move to Tennessee to live with her daughter Sandie. Preceding her in death were her first husband, J. W. Allred, her second husband, Raiford Thompson, two brothers: Jack Sheffield and Harold Sheffield, son, John C. Allred, infant daughter, Debbie Gail Thompson, great grandson, Jonathan Witt, great granddaughter, Mahayla Moore, and son-in-law, Frank Centers. She is survived by two daughters: Sandra Centers of Cleveland, and Connie Cole of Jackson, GA; special granddaughter, Micheal Scott and husband, David of Locust Grove, GA, and eleven other grandchildren: Tammy Taylor and husband, Randall of Cleveland, Debbie Dye and husband, Clarence of Morganton, GA, Mary Cooper and husband, Denzil, Judy Moore and husband, Randy, Lea Arthur and husband, Ron, Cathy Witt and husband, Ben, John Allred, Chris Allred and wife, Kandi, all of Cleveland, Jarod Allred of Mount Vernon, IN, Tiffany Cole of Lithia Springs, GA, and Kevin Cole of Dalton, GA; nineteen great-grandchildren, and seven great great-grandchildren; and special friend and companion, Rosie Centers. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, 2009, in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Pastor Guinn Green officiating. Interment will follow in Delano Cemetery with grandsons and great-grandsons serving as pallbearers. Her family will receive friends from 5 ? 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Thompson family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.