Vashti Thompson

The Thompson and Collins families announce with deep sadness the untimely passing of their wife, mother, sister, and aunt, Vashti Theodosia Josephine Klade Collins-Thompson (b. January 14, 1966). Vashti transitioned at 9:30pm on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 surrounded by her family at home in North Austin, TX, USA.
Born January 14, 1966 in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, Liberia, Vashti moved with her family to the US in 1997 when her husband was granted a scholarship to pursue a Master of Divinity at a seminary in Wisconsin. The family would relocate several times, often because of her husband's calls as pastor – from Waukesha, WI to St. Croix, the US Virgin Islands to New Orleans, LA, then to Galveston, TX and to Austin, TX four years ago. She pursued her own educational and career goals during those moves while sometimes working full time and raising four children.
Vashti obtained her undergraduate and graduate degrees in early childhood education at the University of the Virgin Islands, the University of New Orleans, and Concordia University Nebraska, a career she pursued beginning at Lutheran Social Services' Head Start program in St. Croix, USVI, Trinity Episcopal School's Les Enfants in New Orleans, LA, Trinity Episcopal Beginning School and Ambassador's Preparatory Academy in Galveston, and St. David's Episcopal Day School, Copernicus Stem Academy and Child Inc. in Austin, TX as lead teacher, director, and family advocate.
Vashti is predeceased by her parents, the Reverend Canon Amos Bani and Kathleen Ariel Liberty Collins. She is survived by her husband of 30 years, the Reverend Edward Thompson; their children Alfred (Onica) of Beaumont, TX, Levi, Gershom and Vashèd of Austin, TX; one granddaughter Naya Victoria (Alfred & Onica); her Sisters Martha Caine McIntosh of Suffolk, VA, Frances Hart (Bishop Jonathan Hart) of Fort Lauderdale, FL, Amoleen Ade Diggs (Lloyd) of Raleigh, NC, Mardea "Tees" Higginbotham (John) of London, UK; Brothers Jeremiah "Jerry" of Philadelphia, PA, David of Trenton, NJ, Hilary (Marilyn) of Monrovia, Liberia, Theodore "Theo" (Modu) of Woonsocket, RI, and Christian (Rosamond) of Alabama; Uncle Dr. James Collins (Barbara) of Cottage Grove, MN; nieces Araminta "Ayede" (Kenneth), Eugenia "Wede," Victoria "Maawe," Joyce (Jerome), and Bunche (Fouad); Davidlyn and Dyeatoe; Alvileen "Alvi" (Alex), Hilda and Adeline, Christollie (Nyan Miantor), Joy "Maxi," and Amoleen Klade; Scottie (Moses) and Blessing "Maria"; Theoma (Jesse), Diamond. Nephews André and Augustus, Stephen and Scott, David, Jr., Ndakala and Yibebo, Magnus; cousins Tertia, Eugene (Bhawna), Charles "Chuck" (Mona), John (Charlene), Michael, Mercy (Paul); childhood friends Connie Wilson (Lawrence), Elaine Forte, and Estherline Hutchins (Wilfred); a host of cousins, other relatives and friends of Liberia, the US Virgin Islands, New Orleans, LA, and Galveston and Austin, TX.
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