V.J. Thompson, 70, of Florence, South Carolina, entered eternal life on July 24, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Born on December 24, 1955, in Florence County, South Carolina, V.J. was the beloved son of the late Vonnie and Betty Thompson. He was raised in Berkeley County and later made Florence his home, where he became a well-known and respected member of the community.

V.J. dedicated much of his life to serving others, especially the youth of Florence County. He found great joy in supporting and encouraging young people through his involvement with the Florence County Recreation Department. His commitment to local athletics and community development was evident through his longtime service at Delmae Baseball Park, where he served as Past President and remained a Lifetime Board Member. He was also a devoted supporter of the South Florence Booster Club and South Florence Football programs.

He was a proud past member of the Omar Shrine Temple and the Omar Jazz Morticians, organizations through which he enjoyed fellowship and community service.

Above all, V.J. was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He cherished the time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren, whom he considered God's greatest blessings and loved more than life itself.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife, Marie Thompson of the home; his son, Shawn Thompson (Tami); his cherished grandchildren, Chandler Thompson (Gracie Shelton) and Makenzi Thompson (Kellin Croshaw); and Harrison Brown, who held a special place in his heart as a grandchild.

He is also survived by his sister, Lori Johnson (Charles) of Easley; his mother-in-law, Diane Kemmerlin; sister-in-law, Amanda Cockfield; brothers-in-law, Rodney Oncale, Randy Kemmerlin (Ronda), Freddie Davis (Tracie), Eddie Davis (Rachel) and George McDoughan (Liz); special nieces, Mahala Davis , Kylie Bowers (David), Heather Davis (Jeremy), Krystal Oncale, and Ashley Whitmire (Jay); special nephews, Micah Davis (Cassidy), Collin Davis, Gabriel Davis, Trey Cockfield, Tyler Cockfield, Rodney Oncale Jr., Noah Kemmerlin, Cory Kemmerlin, Nicholas Davis, Cody Johnson, Jeremy West and many other beloved family members and friends.

V.J. also shared a special bond with his cousin, Phil Thompson (Lynn) of Moncks Corner; his Aunt Pat, Melissa Lee and Wanda Parfitt: his "Brother in Love," Craig Brown (Kay) and family; and his "Sister in Love," Leslie Moore (Tony) and family. He will also be lovingly remembered by special friends, JT Turner (Gail), Ray Turner (Holly), Jamie Coates (Diane), Alan Collins (Leslie), Micky Lynch (Natalie), and Bobby Montrose.

In addition to his parents, V.J. was preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jim and Rosalee Kemmerlin; his beloved niece, Morghan Gore; cousin, Lisa Forrest; grandparents, Leona and Dewey Thompson, and Curtis and Ernest Rhames.

V.J.'s legacy of service, kindness, generosity, and unwavering love for family will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him. His life was a testament to the power of community, friendship, and devotion, and he will be deeply missed by all whose lives he touched.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to South Florence Baseball Program, c/o SF ABC, PO Box 13273, Florence, SC, 29504. Please designate on check for baseball. Memorials may also be made to Delmae Baseball Program, c/o Amy Weber, 4814 E. National Cemetery Rd, Florence, SC, 29506.

A funeral service to honor his life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in the Chapel of Layton-Anderson Funeral Home with burial to follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the funeral home.