Wilma "Tootsie" Jones Thompson

“Loving Wife, Mother, and Grandmother”

Canton – Wilma “Tootsie” Juanita Caldwell Jones Thompson, 80, passed away on Sunday, January 8, 2023 at Haywood Regional Medical Center.

Wilma was a native of Haywood County and was born September 19, 1942 to the late Jarvis and Wilsye Caldwell.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Carolyn Jones; a brother, James “Lucky” Caldwell; two sisters, Maggie Lee Sutton Cagle and Ella Jane Morrow; three infant nephews, Homer Lee Sutton, Jamie Douglas Rich; and Darren Eugene Cagle; a niece, Sandra Lee Gentry; and a grandson, Cameron Blake.

She lived most of her life in Maggie Valley until she moved to Canton.

She graduated from Waynesville Township High School in 1961 with a perfect attendance of 12 years.

She worked for Canton’s Street and Water Department until she went to work for Champion Paper Mill where later an accident took her out of work.

She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother not only to her own but also her nieces and nephews.

She loved her flowers, gardening, camping, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Left to cherish Tootsie’s memory is her husband, Douglas Thompson; son, Lucky Joe Jones (Sandy); two grandsons, Chris Jones (Brianna) and Jacob Suttles (Christa); sisters, Mary Sue Gentry, Barbara Cagle, and Hazel Rich; grandkids, Cody, McKenna, and Weston Jones, Ivan, Sofia, and JJ, Sophia, Natalie, and Katie Blake and Sawyer; and several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a local food pantry of one’s choice.

The care of Wilma Jones has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Canton.