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Corleen Jane Thompson, 78, of Wilmington, NC died on February 26, 2023. She was born in Fabius, NY on November 14, 1944 to Audrey and Pearl (Rahm) Thompson.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Merry Ann Wright, nephew Ryan Andrew Parks and beloved cats of years past.

Corleen graduated from Cazenovia High School in 1962 and Syracuse University’s College of Forestry in 1966. She received her PhD in Epidemiology from UNC Chapel Hill after working in medical research for many years. Corleen pursued the field of Epidemiology in Georgia and resided in Albany, GA until health concerns required that she move closer to family. While in Georgia she attended Leesburg United Methodist Church and volunteered with the prison ministry. Corleen was a prolific reader, mostly enjoying scientific journals. If she had been healthy during the COVID pandemic she would have been in her glory.

She is survived by sister Meg Smith (husband Don), brother Ned Thompson (wife Kristine), nephews Meade Parks, Clark Thompson(Clarissa), Robert Thompson, and niece Ali-Marie Ingram(Alec), and extended family.

A private celebration of life will be held in New York later in the summer.

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March 07, 2023

Deborah Marsh says:

Corleen loved and really cared about people. She became a daily visitor to my home to use the high-speed internet and write articles an epidemiology and biostatics (holding PhDs in both). Perhaps the most intelligent person I have ever known. For over 10 years she was a member of the small group Bible study that met in our home. She always took great care to prepare for the lesson and bring great refreshments. She came early to help me set up and stay late to clean up. Corleen loved to pray and wrote prayers for people in her journals on a daily basis. If someone shared a prayer request with her, she would pray with them on the spot whether in the grocery store or Walmart! She listed these people on papers attached to her bathroom mirrors. She was very active in Cairos prison ministries and led retreats at Pulaski State Prison for Woman. She was active in Emmaus and sponsored many pilgrims from her church Leesburg UMC in Leesburg, GA. Corleen loved the huge cat named Shadow pictured there with her. She walked Shadow on a leash to the mailbox. I often cared for Shadow when she was out of town, and she took care of our dog Arthur. Corleen Loved to play hymns on her family piano. She is singing them now with her Savior. Corleen lives in my memories and my heart. I will see her again. I shall never forget her and her impact on my life.
March 06, 2023

Ned and Kristine lit a candle:
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