BARBARA ANN THOMPSON

Barbara Ann Thompson, affectionately known as Sweetheart, was delivered into this world on May 27, 1945 at Riverside Community Hospital in sunny California. Sweetheart spent her pre-teen years in Blythe, California and enjoyed spending time with her grandparents on the farm and with her family fishing in local canals. Barbara moved to San Bernardino, California at the age of 12.

Barbara’s desire to leave the nest and raise a family of her own lead to her marriage to Clifford Bradley and the birth of four beautiful children, Vegas, Mary, Jeffry and Antoinette. Although the couple eventually parted ways, Barbara initially settled down in Rialto, California and realized her dream to nurture her family, own a home, and engage in entrepreneurial pursuits selling her original ceramics, handmade towels, unique lace handkerchiefs and faux furs to church members and friends.

Sweetheart, very skilled with her hands and with numbers, worked in several local factories as a machinist over the years to support her family, but climbed into the ranks of leadership at Sweetheart Cups in Riverside, California.

In 1985, Barbara married Richard Thompson, traveled often and regularly enjoyed small intimate gatherings with family and friends in her home.

Barbara inherited her mother’s green thumb, having cultivated persimmons, pomegranates, avocados, oranges, apricots, figs, plums, strawberries, kumquats, blackberries and lemons in her backyard that she shared with loved ones during the harvest each year.

Sweetheart loved to listen to gospel music, Barry White love songs, and to share God’s love with all that she encountered. She loved Jesus, all things green, hearts, roses, gold, angels and spending quality time with family just about anywhere; but especially on fishing trips, at Yogurtland, and on the beachfront to listen to the waves.

Upon her warm reception into the arms of Jesus, she reconnected with her mother and father, Gladys and Newton Lewis, her late husband, Richard Thompson, her sister-in-law, Katherine Lanell Lewis, and her brother, Newton Lee Lewis, Jr.

Her legacy will be honored and carried on with love by her children Vegas Vanley, Mary Ann Hall, Robert Andrew Hall, Jeffry Prince Bradley, Antoinette Bradley, “adopted” daughter Sherlene Tillard and her husband, DJ Wright. Her brothers, Maderal Hilburn and Ron Lewis. Her sister, Brenda Julia Carrie Bolden; Her brother-in-law Andrew Hall. Her sister-in-law Cozetta Hilburn. Her aunt and uncle, Lewis and Laura Washington. Her niece, Tina Todd. Her grandchildren, Alex Vanley, KC Vanley, California Torry, Monterey Torry, Elizabeth Torry, Sydney Hall, Jeffry Bradley, Raquel Bradley, Lindsey Bradley, Kensel Bradley, DeVonte Bradley, DeAndre Bradley, Shantelle Bradley, Rashon Bradley, William Bradley, Megan Bradley, Javante Scott, and DeAngelo Wright. Her nieces and nephews, Molly Hilburn, Maderal Hilburn, Jr., Renee Hilburn, Brian Hilburn, Chauntae Lewis, Tyniah Lewis, LaRon Lewis, Aisha Bolden, Natascha Bolden, William Bolden, Darrell Bolden, and Ronnell Bolden. Great-grandchildren, Roman Alacard Torry and Tony Hall Jr. and a host of other grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many beloved friends.