A tireless advocate for her constituents and the city as a whole, Thompson,

who is now 91,  has been a pioneer in Anderson, from even before her

election as the first African-American to serve on Anderson City Council in

1976. She also spearheaded efforts to move from all at-large seats on city

council to election by districts for better representation.

For more than half a century Thompson has had a long-standing and

influential voice in local government and as president of the South

Carolina Municipal Association.