Uncrowned Community Builders

Vivian Virginia Charlotte Ellis was born to two of the founding members of New Hope Baptist Church, the Late Deacon Willie Walter Ellis and Deaconess Aurelia Smith-Ellis, shortly after her parents emigrated from Louisburg, North Carolina on March 21, 1914 in Niagara Falls, New York.

She attended schools in the Niagara Falls school system, and began playing the organ for the Church at age nine. She graduated from Niagara Falls High School in June 1933.

After her high school graduation, she pursued her passion, completed college coursework in music and secretarial sciences.

She met George Bertram Thompson in front of New Hope Baptist Church, and the couple married on August 28, 1937. They had four children, Dr. Donald Elwood Thompson, George Bertram Thompson, Jr., Margaret Odessa Thompson and Michael Eric Thompson, eleven grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. The Lord has heard her prayers, and blessed her with a legacy of scholars, artisans and entrepreneurs.

In 1967, she became full-time secretary of the church under Rev. Walter M. Echols, serving in that capacity for twenty seven years. She was also the church organist for thirty years, and served as a Sunday School teacher, choir member, and trustee. She served the New Hope Baptist Church family as a friend, always with patience, love, charity, a giggle and a smile.

In 1969, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson became guardians to their first grandson, Andre, whom they raised as their son. Then, in 1976, she mourned the loss of her beloved husband George, but continued to raise Andre as a single mother. Andre became a lawyer and he is founder and Chief Counsel of Soleil, Roy, Rahim and Galloway, P.C., Brooklyn, NY, and an off-Broadway producer.