Nell Thompson

"I expect to pass through this life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again." William Penn
Warnerton native and longtime Baton Rouge resident Nell Bickham Thompson dies peacefully at home surrounded by her family at the age of 93. Born December 20, 1922, her parents were Nancy Ann Beech Bickham and Oliver Wendel Bickham.

Nell entered nursing school at Hotel Dieu in New Orleans at the age of 17. On the day of her graduation, she and a friend took a midnight train to Memphis to enlist in the Navy, where she became an officer in charge of a ward of convalescing WWII soldiers. In Memphis, she met her future husband, Alton Thompson, who was also in the Navy. They married in 1945.

After the military, Nell and Alton moved to Baton Rouge, where she attended the LSU School of Nursing Education. She was on the faculty and staff of Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, as well as working for several years as a Registered Nurse. In the early 1960s, she purchased the Baton Rouge Nurses' Registry, which at the time was the only private duty nurses' registry in Baton Rouge. At one point, she had over 500 employees on the registry. Nell was a member of the Baton Rouge District, Louisiana State, and American Nurses Association for many years.

After selling her business in 1988, she retired, and the Bridge bug bit her. She joined the Baton Rouge Bridge Club and enjoyed many years of competitive playing.

Nell taught pre-school Sunday school at Cedarcrest Baptist Church for 20 years, and then became a longtime member of Broadmoor Baptist Church.

Nell is preceded in death by her husband, Alton Thompson and her son, Joel Thompson.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Rosemary T. Glidden and Matthew Glidden of Houston; daughter and loving caretaker, Gay Nell Thompson; and beloved granddaughter, Grace Nell Glidden.

Visitation will be at Resthaven Gardens of Memory and Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway, on Monday, February 15, 2016 from 10:00AM to 1:00PM. Services to follow. Interment will take place in Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

Family and friends may sign the online guest book or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.

Visitation

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Monday, February 15, 2016
10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Service

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Monday, February 15, 2016
1:00 pm

Cemetery

Resthaven Gardens of Memory
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816