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| Celeste's Scholarship |
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 Celeste's Story
Celeste was born on September 5, 1981, in Vero Beach, Florida. At the age of seventeen she graduated with honors from Winter Haven High School. After graduation, she felt God calling her to become part of the Master’s Commission in Atlanta, Georgia. Although her work with children began prior to this, it was at this time when she truly found God’s purpose on her life. While working with Master’s Commission she also was enrolled at Lee University to further her educational goals.
As an expansion of Master’s Commission, Celeste moved to a government supported housing project in Atlanta. At the age of eighteen, she began her urban missionary work there and assisted in the start-up of Richmond Oaks Church of God. Her ministry reached across different ethnic backgrounds. Each life she touched was loved not only by her but most of all by Jesus. She worked with unwed teenage mothers helping then find governmental financial support, teaching them how to care for their homes and children, and above all else guiding them to Jesus. She formed a ministry with the local teenage girls that taught them how to be morally strong young women through the example she led. She helped them find their own passion and purpose for their lives. Her work did not stop with young women, but was extended to the children and adults within the community. Celeste scheduled tutoring classes with children that needed help in school. She held children’s Bible study classes, Vacation Bible Schools, and supported them in the every day challenges of growing up in what was a lot of times a different culture in that what they were born. Her love and compassion reached the homeless, alcoholic, prostitute, and uneducated. Along with this full-time ministry she would travel two hours (each way) several times a week to attend college classes at Lee University.
At twenty she moved to Cleveland, Tennessee where she became a full-time student. She graduated with honors at twenty-two with a Bachelor’s Degree in History. Celeste continued her education at Lee and received her Masters Degree in Education in 2005.
After completing her education at Lee, Celeste moved back home to Florida. She accepted a position at Polk City Elementary School (Polk City, Florida) as a Media Specialist. She truly loved working with the children and challenging them in their own personal educational goals.
Celeste’s passion was working with children and teenage girls. Through her Church she taught Children’s Church, led children’s choir, and organized a teenage girls group. This girls group would have monthly meetings where Celeste would teach them of God’s love for them. It was at one of these meeting the Monday prior to her death that she challenged them to find their purpose in life and work toward that purpose with passion. At this gathering she stated, “When I see Jesus I know He will say to me” “well done my good and faithful servant.” She stated He will say, “I was hungry and you feed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was naked and you clothed me.” Celeste was extremely confident in her relationship with God.
Celeste died in an automobile accident on October 20, 2006 at approximately 10:30 p.m. A young and inexperienced driver lost control of his vehicle and killed her instantly. She was traveling home from a charity cake auction held at her school. Even up to the very hour prior to God taking her to be with Him, she was helping others in need.
In an effort to pay forward the life she lived and her dedication to God’s calling on her life, we have created the Celeste Thompson Memorial Scholarship at Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. 100% of the money raised will go to scholarships supporting women in education. Your donation is deductible and greatly appreciated.
If you would like to donate to this great cause by a check, please make your check payable to Lee University and mail to:
Celeste Thomspon Memorial Scholarship
c/o Dr. Jerome Hammond
Lee University
1120 North Ocoee Street
Cleveland, TN 37320-3450
Contact us for more info:
Bill & Venisha Knepper
727-235-1580
BillK211@aol.com
or go to:
www.CelesteThompsonMemorial.com
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