Nina J. Thompson's Obituary
Nina Joann Thompson, known lovingly to family and friends as Joann, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2026, at the age of 76.
Joann was born on October 21, 1949, in Borger, Texas, to Robert Clyde Henson and Billie Marie Price Henson. She grew up in Borger as the oldest of four children, and from an early age took on the responsibility of helping care for her younger siblings. That spirit of love, responsibility, and compassion would become the defining thread of her story.
Joann graduated from Borger High School in 1968. Soon after graduation, with the help and encouragement of her uncle and aunt, Max and Jerry Price of Sherman, Texas, she was offered the opportunity to move to Sherman and build a life and career of her own. Their support of her education not only opened a new path for Joann, but also helped shape the way she would spend the rest of her days. Joann began working at Wilson N. Jones Regional Medical Center, where she met Reba Franklin, who would become her forever best friend. Together, Joann and Reba took classes at Grayson County College, where Joann earned her associate degree in nursing, became a registered nurse, and continued building the foundation for a career devoted to caring for others.
Through Reba, Joann’s path took another meaningful turn when on September 11, 1975, Reba introduced Joann to her brother, Leonard Thompson. Joann and Leonard were married on March 12, 1976, and together, they raised two sons, Phillip Alan and Wesley Aaron. Leonard and Joann shared nearly 44 years of marriage before Leonard’s passing in February of 2020.
In 1983, Joann began working at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas in the Margot Perot Center. During her time there, she continued her education and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington while taking night classes after work. She devoted 31 years of service to her patients and colleagues before retiring in 2014. Along the way, she formed enduring friendships with women she continued to visit and travel with after retirement.
Joann was a faithful member of The Northeast Church, where she worshiped and served since 1984. Over more than four decades, the church family became her second family. She formed many dear friendships there, and those friends became a cherished source of comfort, joy, and belonging.
What set Joann apart was the steady, selfless way she cared for others. She helped raise her siblings. She cared for mothers and babies as a labor and delivery nurse. She later cared for women on the specialty surgery and recovery floor. She raised two boys and cared for many of their friends as her own. She cared for her adult sister and her brothers and parents until their passing. She cared for her husband through illness until his passing. She did all of this while quietly facing health challenges of her own, never asking for anything in return and always giving what she could to others. Even near the end, when she was the one needing care, Joann still wanted to help others around her. She lived with a heart full of love and compassion.
Joann loved God, her family, and her friends deeply. She will be remembered for her kindness, her strength, her servant’s heart, and the quiet, steady way she showed love to those around her.
Joann was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leonard James Thompson; her parents, Robert Clyde Henson and Billie Marie Price Henson; and her brothers, Jimmy Ray Henson and John Robert Henson.
She is survived by her sister, Judy Kay Obrecht; her sons, Phillip Alan Thompson and Wesley Aaron Thompson; her daughter-in-law Angel Marie Thompson; and her granddaughters, Sydney Marie Thompson and Gracyn Taylor Thompson.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas. A funeral service will be held on Friday, May 1, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Restland Wildwood Chapel in Dallas. Because seating in the chapel is limited, those wishing to pay their respects and only planning to attend one gathering are warmly encouraged to attend the visitation. A private family interment will follow the service.
Joann loved children and was especially fond of the children in her church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the children’s ministries of The Northeast Church at https://www.thenortheastchurch.com/give. When giving online, please select JAM for elementary-age children or CTF for teens from the dropdown menu.
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