Mother Pauline Thompkins

On the fifth of June, 1918, a vibrant, loving, and spunky baby girl, by the name of Pauline Harris, was born to Sam and Sallie Harris. The youngest of four children, Mother Pauline (as she loving became known as) grew up in Charleston, West Virginia. She was educated there as well, completing high school. In her young adult years, Mother Pauline and her mom moved to Chicago and eventually to the Bronx, New York. There she met and eloped with a preacher named Emmet Thompkins, to whom she was married forty-eight years. From that union came four children, to whom she gave all of her love and affection. Eventually moving to Amityville, Long Island, New York, Mother Pauline worked as a practical nurse while taking care of her four children, her mother, and carrying out the responsibilities of a preacher’s wife. Receiving salvation at the early age of twenty-one, Mother Pauline was completely devoted to the work of the Lord. She absolutely enjoyed going to church services, prayer meetings, Sunday school (in which she taught classes), and church conventions and convocations. “Mother” never missed a service, for the joy of the Lord was truly her strength. Although she had so many family responsibilities, she found time to enroll in Bethel Bible Institute in Jamaica, New York, and completed several courses there. After the passing of her husband, “Mother” came to live with her only daughter, Rosalind, in Washington, DC. She did not believe in being without a church home, so she joined National Church of God in Fort Washington, Maryland, where Dr. Stephen Lowery is the Pastor. Mother Pauline thrust herself into the services of the Lord there as well, even teaching Senior Sunday School for a while. Having a very energetic spirit, Mother Pauline involved herself in many activities while living with her daughter and son-in-law (whom she affectionately called her son). It was nothing for her to get on the Metro bus and travel around town accomplishing anything she wanted to. She continued to do so until the age of ninety years old. She also participated in a Senior Bible Study at a neighborhood church on a weekly basis, helped to take care of sick friends, and delivered food to sick and shut- in seniors with a program called “Meals on Wheels”. She was a woman with great wisdom, and loved to be a help to as many as she could. Her counsel and advice contained great depth. Mother Pauline adored her only two granddaughters, Victoria and Angelique. She poured the same love and attention into other children and young people, as well as displaying the love of God to anyone she came in contact with. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Emmet Thompkins, her son, Reginald Cary Thompkins and her two sisters and brother. “Mother” will be deeply missed by her daughter, Rosalind Thompkins Lynch (Willie), two sons, Samuel Thompkins and Emmet Donald Thompkins, her granddaughters, Victoria Lynch-Draper (Marcus) and Angelique Lynch-Jiles, (Elliott), her great-grandson Luke Alexander Draper, and a host of nieces, nephews, church families, and friends. Homegoing Celebration for Mother Pauline Thompkins: On Saturday, July 14, 2018, there will be a Visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Funeral Service will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the National Church of God, 6700 Bock Road, Fort Washington, MD 20744. Interment to follow at Heritage Cemetery, 13472 Poplar Hill Road, Waldorf, MD 20601.