Paul Ray Thompson

On March 11, 1950, Paul Ray Thompson was born in his parents’ home that he shared with six older siblings, and on August 17, 2025, in the home he shared with his wife of 42 years, Paul Ray was called home to the arms of Jesus.

Growing up on a cattle and row crop farm, his chores of milking the family cow and helping pick cotton started at age 5 and spurred his continued love of farming . If you ask his kids, they will tell you “We can’t simply say we grew up with cows, horses, and other farm animals. We can recall at least five types of dairy cows alone, more dog breeds than you have time for, and although quarter horses were his first love, you can’t forget the ponies, the Belgiums, and all the gated horses. He made sure we experienced it all.”

It didn’t stop there; Paul was a great outdoorsman. Truly. There was no season like hunting season - his kids and many family and friends have stories to testify. He loved his hunting dogs and one can only describe his excitement as contagious when they hit the first track sent on a cold winter morning. Deputy dog, as he was known, kept his son Alex by his side, along with his girls, and eventually his grandkids tagged along as the best dog catchers around.

Some of the most special moments took place at Paul’s beloved barn. There he taught all of his kids to ride, bought numerous ponies for grandkids and trained some of the best horses around . They called him the horse whisperer. His family laughs as they said the barn could be a revolving door as horses came and went. One of their favorite stories was hearing how he took a horse everyone claimed was done for and became determined to ride it with no bridle and steering with only the toe of his boot - he did just that.

Paul was a devoted husband and loved his wife Renae. He always wanted to be sure that Renae had all of her needs and wants met. Nothing was too much for Mama around our house. He was a man who showed his love by his actions and would give the shirt off his back. His son’s desire was to be like him, and his daughters wanted to marry a man like him.

Above all, Paul loved the Lord and didn’t hold back sharing the love of Christ. He loved teaching at church and being part of the choir, but his greatest ministry was the way he exemplified the Father as a father.

Paul is survived by his wife, Renae Jones (Morton); children: Jana Mayatt (Collinsville), Lexi Covington (Tim) - Morton, Whitney Holland (Zach) - Morton, Alex Thompson (Crystal) - Carthage; siblings: Linda Johnson (Jackson), James Claude Thompson (Jimmie Ruth) - Morton, Roger Thompson (Morton), nine grandchildren with one expected, one great grandchild with two expected, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Paul was preceded by his parents: Claude and Lennie Thompson; siblings: Estelle Shedd, Jimmy Dale Thompson, Coz Thompson, Mack Thompson, Charles Thompson, and Herman (Hank) Thompson.

His services will be held on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at 5:00 P.M. at New Liberty Baptist Church in the old sanctuary in Leesburg, MS. There will be no visitation. His burial will follow at Leesburg Baptist Cemetery in Pelahatchie, MS.