Joe Lewis Thompson was born on April 29, 1938, in Chester, South Carolina — son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Bennie Thompson. He graduated from Finley Senior High School before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in March of 1960, stepping onto a path that would define the next three decades of his life and leave an imprint on every life he touched.
He was a husband to Juanita Moore Thompson, a father to three sons — Marvin, Antwaun, and Darryl — and a grandfather who never stopped setting the standard. To every young Marine who crossed his path, he was a benchmark: immovable in discipline, quiet in authority, and genuine in compassion for those who needed a hand.
His philosophy was simple and non-negotiable: if you see someone who needs help, you help them — without hesitation, and without any expectation of reward. That principle did not hang on a wall. It lived in how he moved through the world, every single day, for 58 years.
JLT Fieldhouse, Inc. was founded in his honor by his son, Antwaun "Coach T®" Thompson, to carry that philosophy forward — into every gym, every camp, every young person who walks through the door and needs someone in their corner.
Juanita Moore Thompson was born on October 28, 1943, in Blount's Creek, North Carolina — daughter of the late William Jackson Moore and Alberta Moore. She was a devoted wife to Sgt. Maj. Joe Lewis Thompson, USMC, and the steady, loving presence that held their family together through every deployment, every move, and every season of military life.
She built a career in service to others as an admissions administrator at Henrico Doctors Hospital, where her warmth and dedication touched the lives of everyone she encountered. Her life was centered around faith, family, and the quiet joys she cherished — reading, attending church, shopping, and simply being present with those she loved.
Juanita peacefully entered eternal rest on November 13, 2025, at the age of 82. She is survived by her three sons — Marvin, Antwaun, and Darryl Thompson — her grandchildren Kristian Capel, Haden Thompson, Chloe Thompson, Sarah Thompson, Megan Thompson, and David Thompson, and her great-grandchildren Makhi and Jhené.
Her faith was the anchor of her life — and it remains the anchor of the family and the mission she helped shape by standing beside the man who inspired it all.
