Mary Louise Milliken Thompson

Mary Louise Thompson died peacefully at her home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on September 16, 2024, at the age of 96.

Mary Louise was born in Siler City, North Carolina, on December 3, 1927, to a dentist and a homemaker. She graduated from Siler City High School and then attended Meredith College in Raleigh where she earned her BA in French and English. She did graduate work at the University of North Carolina and at North Carolina State. From 1948-50 she was a corporate executive secretary and then taught in the public schools from 1950-53. In 1952 she married William Reid Thompson of Pittsboro, North Carolina, where the couple lived until moving to Raleigh in 1961.

Mary Louise lived an exemplary life of service, devotion, and love, filling her days with people and activities. In Raleigh she was a docent at the North Carolina Museum of Art and a volunteer with the Head Start Program. In 1971 she and her family moved to Washington, DC, where she became a member of the Ladies Board of the Washington Children's Hospital, the Meridian House Youth Committee, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Sulgrave and F Street Clubs, and a volunteer at St. Albans School and the Georgetown Thrift Shop. From 1990-94 she served on the Maryland State Ethics Commission. In her 50s she earned 60 hours of art history credits at George Washington University and became a docent at Tudor Place in Georgetown. She served on the Women's Board of the Cathedral Choral Society and was chairman of the Bishop's Garden docents at the Washington National Cathedral and a contributor to the Bishop's Garden newsletter. She taught Sunday School for 17 years, and she and her husband gave generously to many charitable organizations.

A woman of quiet charm, grace, and beauty, Mary Louise let her children and colorful husband shine, yet she was a captivating and perceptive storyteller in her own right and a gracious hostess of parties large and small, her only concern that everybody feel comfortable and enjoy themselves. She was a talented cook of French-inspired Southern cuisine and a masterful baker, her kitchen always filled with the intoxicating aromas of homemade cinnamon bread, fruit pie, or her signature pound cake. She loved foreign travel, swimming, her book club, singing and piano lessons, her choral group, and guiding tours at Tudor Place and the Bishop's Garden. But most of all she loved her family.

Mary Louise was predeceased in March by her husband, Reid, of 71 years. She was also predeceased by her brother Jesse Edwards Milliken and her sister Elizabeth Golding. She is survived by her children, Mary Rice, W. Reid Thompson III (Liza), John Thompson (Margo), and Susan Billington (Tom), as well as seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The family will hold a graveside commemoration. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Tudor Place, 1644 31st St. NW, Washington, DC 20007; or All Hallows Guild at the Washington National Cathedral.