About Us

About Us

Thompson Funeral Home was founded by Joseph B. Thompson. Joseph B. Thompson was born on January 2, 1916 in Ashville, North Carolina. The family later moved to Spartanburg, South Carolina where he attended school and graduated. Being thrifty and ambitious, wanting to make contributions with his life. J.B., as he was affectingly called was employed in variety of capacities which carried him from New York, Ney Jersey and Pennsylvania. Joseph B. Thompson arrived to Detroit in 1938 where he found employment with the Detroit Stove company and the D.S.R. of the city of Detroit.

Mr. Joseph B. Thompson established Thompson Funeral Home, a family owned and operated business in 1949. A graduate from Wayne State University of Mortuary Science in 1945, Joseph B. Thompson and his wife Mrs. Hildreth Thompson began business in their first location in 1949 on East Forest and Brush. Quickly establishing himself as an astute businessman and civic leader, he was able to expand his business to a newer and larger building, located at 7643 Dexter. His wife, Hildreth was a public relations director, cosmetologist, and organist. She also had a gift with sign language to help with deaf and hearing impaired families.

In 1963, Joseph B. Thompson expanded their location on Dexter Boulevard with larger chapels, casket showroom and arrangement rooms. The Thompson family continued their expansion in 1974 with a beautiful new building located at 15443 Greenfield Road.

With Joseph Thompson at the helm, the Thompson children began their apprenticeship in the business. The oldest son, William Thompson did not live to assume his future role, but the Thompspn family closed ranks and continued to work with an ever-growing business. The responsibilities of directing a large business did not deter Mr. Thompson from tireless contributions in time and money to civic and religious causes.


His involvement were many that spanned in the civic, social, political and religious life in his beloved city. He was most passionate on being a trustee of Shaw College at Detroit and the Joseph B. Thompson “Mr. Esquire Scholarship Fund.” He practiced what he preached; he presented 50 scholarships within five years to young men attending Shaw College. He was honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters and by his fraternity Xi Beta Sigma, as an outstanding member who contributed generously to the education of minorities in the Detroit area.


Joseph B. Thompson passed away in 1986, but the business skills had been taught well in the family. Mrs. Hildreth Thompson continued to make arrangements with families and directs funerals until her passing in 2013. Her warm, genuine personality and public relation skills is what enhanced Thompson Funeral Homes. Rose Marie, a graduate of Wayne State School of Mortuary Science, and a graduate of University of Windsor in Windsor Ontario, is the Chief Executive Officer of Thompson Funeral Home. Thompson Funeral Home is currently managed by Joseph Thompson-Matthews and Edward Thompson-Matthews as the third generation of service to the community continues.

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