Dr. Elizabeth Wyse Thompson, a longtime resident of Fairhope, died Sunday, March 20, 2011.
Affectionately known as “Betts” or “B” she was a local Fairhope author and writing specialist with Faulkner State Community College in Fairhope. She co-authored two books, “Memoramobilia” and “False Gods” under the pen name of Dr. Elizabeth Coffman and had a distinguished career as an English professor.
Born March 8, 1933 in Biloxi, Miss., she was the daughter of William Carl and Elizabeth Burton Thompson.
She received her BS and MA from the University of South Alabama in Mobile and her Ph.D from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. She rose to the position of Chairman of the Department of English at Faulkner State Community College, which she held from 1984 to 1994. In 1995 she semi-retired to an adjunct faculty status as a writing specialist and held that position until the time of her death. From 1980 to 1994 she was also a textbook editor for Houghton Mifflin Co.
Writing was her passion and in addition to the two books she co-authored she contributed poetry, reviews and critiques to numerous literary publications. She enjoyed being a member of Eastern Shore Creative Writers and loved passing on her writing skills to her students at Faulkner State.
She was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Daphne.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and former husband, Philip Hamilton Young Sr.
Survivors include two children, Philip Hamilton (Beth) Young Jr. of Columbus, Ga., and Gage Young Bounds of Fairhope; two grandchildren, Christopher Bounds and Matthew Hamilton Young; and brother, William Carl Thompson Jr. of Winter Haven, Fla.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 23 at Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home in Fairhope. A private graveside service will be held at Mobile Memorial Gardens, Mobile.
Arrangements are by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., Fairhope. Online at www.wolfefuneralhome.net.
