Funeral services for the Rev. Nelson Thompson, 70, will be Saturday, Jan. 17.
Thompson, whose nickname was “Fuzzy,” was a United Methodist minister and a community leader who was instrumental in founding the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in the Kansas City area. He was the executive director of the Martin Luther King Urban Center in Kansas City, Kan., from 1968 to 1998. He died Jan. 11.
Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 16, at Thatcher’s Funeral Home, 1520 N. 5th St., Kansas City, Kan., and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at St. James United Methodist Church, 5540 Wayne Ave., Kansas City, Mo. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. James United Methodist Church.
Following is the obituary from Thatcher’s Funeral Home:
The Rev. Nelson ‘Fuzzy’ Thompson
The Rev. Dr. Nelson “Fuzzy” Thompson, United Methodist minister who dedicated his life to fighting for civil rights and challenging racism, inequality and discrimination locally, nationally and internationally, died on Jan. 11, 2014, at the age of 70. His life as a community activist and humanitarian was filled with remarkable achievements that have left a legacy for all those who loved and admired him.
Nelson Lavert Thompson was born Dec. 3, 1944, in Kansas City, Kan., to the union of Marvia Nell and Nelson David Thompson. When he was 6 months old, a relative joked that a little patch of hair on top of the infant’s head looked like fuzz and the nickname “Fuzzy” was created. Nelson Lavert Thompson was best known as “Fuzzy” for the rest of his life.
As a youth, Fuzzy felt the sting of racism when he and his mother were not allowed to sit and eat a hot dog at the lunch counter of a downtown department store after watching the annual American Royal parade. It was one of several incidents that led Fuzzy to a life of social and political activism.
When Fuzzy was 16 years old, his family moved to Kansas City, Mo., where he attended and graduated from Central High School in 1962. On Nov. 27, 1965, Fuzzy and Cheryl Christi Love (a girl he had known since grade school) were joined in holy matrimony. Cheryl and Fuzzy were happily married for 49 years.
Fuzzy attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., where he earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1968. Between 1968 and 1971, Fuzzy taught general science, physical education and biology at Central High School. In 1972, he became an ordained deacon in the United Methodist church.
To know Fuzzy was to know that he loved children and was passionate about programs that supported youth. He was an original board member of the Black Adoption Program and a member of the Executive Committee of the Kansas Children’s Service League. Fuzzy worked as a camp counselor for Kansas City Parts and Recreation Department and was the director of the London Heights United Methodist Church Youth Center.
Fuzzy served as the executive director of the Martin Luther King Urban Center in Kansas City, Kan., from 1968 to 1998. During that time, he also earned a Master of Divinity degree (1974) and a Doctor of Divinity (1994) from St. Paul’s School of Theology. Fuzzy also served as pastor of Mason Memorial United Methodist Church in Kansas City, Kan., from 1991 until his retirement in 2005.
Fuzzy’s commitment to social justice and human rights was recognized internationally as he was asked to help promote causes worldwide. In 1980, Thompson accompanied a University of Kansas professor who organized a group of religious leaders to visit Tehran, Iran, to conduct Easter services for hostages during the Iran Embassy hostage crisis. In 1983, Fuzzy led a delegation of ministers, political leaders and civic activists to Nicaragua to urge an end to the violence between the Contras and the Sandinistas.
His experience supporting international human rights led him to be one of 22 ministers called upon by Bishop Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela and the South African Council of Churches to travel to South Africa to see the struggles of the South African people on a fact-finding educational exchange. He returned to South Africa in 1994 as an official observer for the first post-apartheid elections in South Africa.
Fuzzy was very active in the political process and in supporting voting and voting rights throughout the community. He served as the regional coordinator for the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaign in 1984 and the Missouri state coordinator for Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign. He served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions from 1984 to 2004. He was also a long-time member of Freedom, Inc. political organization and served as chairperson of its Nominating Committee.
Three Kansas City mayors appointed Fuzzy to the city’s Human Rights Commission, where he eventually served as chairperson. Missouri Gov. Bob Holden appointed Fuzzy to the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority, where he also was chairperson. Fuzzy was also the host of “Community Solutions” radio program on Gospel 1590 KPRT.
Fuzzy’s passion for civil rights may be best remembers through his work with the SCLC. He served as the founder and chairperson of the Kansas City, Kan., chapter from 1981 to 1984 until it merged with the Kansas City, Mo., Chapter. He served as the president and CEO of the newly organized SCLC of Greater Kansas City from 1984 until his death. Fuzzy organized the first commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1969, and his efforts continued for the rest of his life. The SCLC of Greater Kansas City’s King Celebration eventually became the second largest commemoration of King in the country.
Fuzzy was known as a tireless advocate for justice and equality for all. He stood up for what was right, no matter the cost. He organized acts of nonviolent civil protests which occasionally got him arrested, but he was willing to make that sacrifice to make a difference for all who were disenfranchised and oppressed. There will never be another Fuzzy.
Fuzzy is survived by his loving wife Cheryl Love Thompson; an aunt, Maureen Brooks; mother-in-law, Travestine Love; sister-in-law, Terri Lynn Foreman (Denard); and brother-in-law, Clarence C. Love Jr. (Cynthia) of Arleta, Calif. Fuzzy is also survived by a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, friends, and people whose lives were touched by his good works and accomplishments.
Visitations: Friday, Jan. 16, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Thatcher’s Funeral Home, 1520 N. 5th St., Kansas City, Kan., and Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. James United Methodist Church, 5540 Wayne Ave., Kansas City, Mo. Religious service will immediately follow the Saturday visitation at 1 p.m. Interment: Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, at 1 p.m. at Highland Park Cemetery, 3801 State Ave., Kansas City, Kan.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that people consider making a memorial donation to one of the following charities: St. Mark’s Child and Family Development Center, 2008 E. 12th St., Kansas City, Mo., 64127; or Friends of Yates, 1418 Garfield Ave., Kansas City, Kan. 66104.