Rev. Thompson Collapses in Pulpit, June 14, 1926

Rev. J.E. Thompson Falls in Pulpit. . . Aged Minister, Related Here, Has Sudden Attack During Sermon. . . Father of Mrs. Gidney

Shelby people will hear with regret of the illness of Rev. J. Ed Thompson of Salisbury. Ev. Mr. Thompson, one of the oldest ministers in active service in the state, is the father of Mrs. Lamar C. Gidney and is well known in Shelby, having preached here years ago. The account of the attack in news dispatches from Salisbury says:

Rev. J. Ed Thompson, pastor of Main Street Methodist Church is in the Salisbury hospital following an attack of weakness he experienced while conducting service at his church this morning. Realizing that he could not go on with the service, Mr. Thompson was pronouncing the benediction to dismiss his congregation when he fell backwards and struck his head on the floor. He was rendered unconscious and remained so for a couple of hours. But this evening he is reported to be showing improvement.

Mr. Thompson is one of the oldest ministers in active work in the conference and has served a number of churches in this section of the state.

From the front page of the Cleveland Star, Shelby, N.C., Monday, June 14, 1926

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn97064509/1926-06-14/ed-1/seq-1/