Brightmoore "Bright" Thompson, age 70, of Charlotte Hall, MD, loving husband and father, went to be with the Lord on November 1, 2012. Born June 11, 1942 in Newport News, VA, he was the son of Robert G. Thompson and Katherine F. Branch Thompson, stepson of T. Heywood Branch.

Bright attended Hampton Sidney College and was employed by the FBI in Washington, D.C. He then joined the U.S. Air Force and served during the Vietnam War. After leaving the Air Force, he pursued a twenty year business career in banking as a manager and loan officer. Following that, he served as the Marketing Director for Bennett Heating and Air.

Bright worked nearly twenty years for the United Methodist Church, first, as a staff member at Good Shepherd UMC, then for eight years as Program Director at La Plata UMC. He found his calling by teaching God's Word at the church for almost twenty years. Bright loved to teach "Disciple", an intense 34 week Bible study. As his reputation as a teacher grew through the years, more students from various churches came forward to learn and grow through Christ.

During his teenage years, Bright was self-taught on the drums and was part of a rock 'n roll band. He played in several bands for over twenty-five years. He played in the country band, the Cimmarons for over ten years. Bright's love of music rolled over into his church life where he often could be heard accompanying the various choirs with his bongos for a Sunday song, and he also played the drums for 42 Youth Choir Musical Productions.

Preceded in death by his parents, Bright is survived by his wife of 38 years, Bonnie S. Thompson; children, Daren B. Thompson (spouse, Michelle Z. Thompson) , Cynthia M. Thompson, Melissa Thompson-Havens and Jennifer C. Thompson; siblings, Robert G. Thompson and Kay Lee Branch and 9 grandchildren; Jayson Zickafoose, Shannon Reicks, Kaitlyn Havens, Julia Turner, Samantha Turner, Christian Wathen, Gregory Havens, Jacob Wathen and Zachary Thompson.

The family will receive friends for Brightmoore's Life Celebration on Monday, November 5, 2012 from 2:00-4:00p.m. and 6:00-8:00p.m. at the La Plata United Methodist Church, 3 Port Tobacco Rd., La Plata, MD. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 11:00a.m. at the Church. Pastor Bruce Jones will officiate. Interment will take place at a later date in Hyndman, PA.

Arrangements are being handled by Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home, P.A., 30195 Three Notch Rd., Charlotte Hall, MD 20622.