Sunrise May 20, 1933 – Sunset March 10, 2024
Marilyn Naomi Thomp- Columbia area, including: son West, affectionately The Columbia Linen Comknown to family members pany, Rainbow Cleaners at and many of her close friends Midland Shopping Center, as Sudie, was born on May The University of South 20, 1933, in Columbia, South Carolina House Keeping Ser-Carolina. She was delivered vices and Zip Cleaners and 60 by Midwife Sadie Nickpee Minute Cleaners, both downto the late Willie and Olivia town and on Main Street.
(Ollie) Thompson. Mari- Marilyn joined Zion lyn is the sixth of seven sib- Baptist Church in 1940 at lings: Leon, Harry, Bernard. the early age of seven years Loretta, Victoria (Hattie Mae) old. She has been a faithful and Annie. member of Zion Church for Marilyn and her siblings many, many years. She loved were all born on Gadsden attending and being involved Street. She lived and played in church activities. During in this area as a child and her active years at Zion, she adolescent until she got mar- was a member of The Misried and left to raise her own sionary Society, The Musical family. Choir and the Kitchen Minis-Marilyn received her try. In 1999, she was honored education in the Columbia by being chosen to serve as school system. She attended Zion’s Woman of the Year. On Howard Elementary School the community side, she was and Booker T. Washington a member of The Arsenal Hill High School. Club for many years. Several Throughout the years, members of the club were Marilyn was employed at members of or had an affiliaseveral jobs throughout the tion with Zion.
On July 3rd, 1949, Marilyn married James West Jr. in Columbia, SC. Early in their marriage, James had a short career in the Air Force, so she joined him on his assignments in Newfoundland, Canada, Arizona and California. The couple eventually settled down in Columbia, SC. Over the years, they lived in various parts of Columbia from Joe Frazier Court, Harper Street, Eastway Park, Plowden Road to Bedford Way. Before his death in December of 2006, James and Marilyn were married for fifty-seven years. To their union, they welcomed and raised their seven children: Carla, Anthony (Tony), Angela, Donna, Norma, Crystal and Ramona. The union was further expanded with the addition of sixteen grandchildren and twenty plus (21) great grandchildren.
As you can imagine, she had a busy life, trying to stay involved and keep up with the activities of all her children — but like most mothers, she managed to get the job done. She had a lot on her plate, but she conquered life and made it look easy. To her children, she is just Mama, but to her children’s childhood friends, she was known as “Mama West”.
Marilyn loved to cook and she was a really good cook. She was known for her fried chicken, pineapple upside down cakes, sweet potato pies and dressing.
Marilyn’s favorite song is: “Jesus, You Are The Center Of My Joy.” Her favorite scripture is: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 and her favorite phrases/mottos are: “If your conscience don’t whip you, nothing will” and “Life will show you, just keep on living.”
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