Scarlett Brooks Hathcock Thompson, 43, passed away on Wednesday, April 13, surrounded by the loving support of family and after a long battle with cancer. She fought the disease with the most amazing grace, bravery and strength.
 
Scarlett, or T as she was affectionately called by those closest to her, was born in Amory on June 21, 1978, to Mike and Sharon Hathcock. She was the second of two daughters, and it was obvious early on that rearing her would be much different than her sister Mel, who was nine-years-old and a typical “only child” at the time.  Scarlett was a handful as a toddler and a bit of a tomboy in grade school, but her sweet spirit was evident, and she grew into a kind and compassionate young woman who was even more beautiful on the inside than she was on the outside. 
 
A lifelong resident of Hatley, Scarlett graduated from Hatley High School with honors in 1996, where she was a member of the student council, Beta club, and Hall of Fame; voted Best All Around, and was a member of the Lady Tiger softball, basketball, track and cheer teams. A fierce third baseman that could pole the ball, she played on three Lady Tiger state championship teams, was named to the All Division, All Area, and All Metro teams, and received way too many other accolades to list. She earned a scholarship to continue her softball career as a Lady Tiger after high school while pursuing her associate of nursing degree at Northeast Mississippi Community College in Boonville. Softball was her first true passion, and watching her play was absolutely thrilling!
 
William Shakespeare said the meaning of life is to find your gift, and the purpose of life is to give that gift away. Scarlett found her gift as a nurse, and she dedicated her life to giving it away. While in nursing school, she was selected for the Caring Nurse Award by her classmates, and she truly lived up to that honor. Scarlett spent the bulk of her nursing career-- 15 years-- as Dr. Clint Washington’s nurse, where she provided the very best nursing care with the utmost kindness and compassion to scores of patients in need of not only physical care but often just a listening ear, words of encouragement or a shoulder to lean on.
 
Scarlett married her high school sweetheart, Kyle Thompson, on December 12, 1999, and they went on to have two children, daughter Emma Rose and son Clay, who were clearly the center of her world. To have more time with them, Scarlett left clinic nursing in 2015 and accepted the position of school nurse at Hatley School, where she worked for the next four years. Nurse Scarlett quickly became the loved and trusted caregiver for students in kindergarten through high school as well as for school employees and faculty members. She treated each student as she would her own child, always referring to them as “her babies,” and often providing them with snacks, clothing, and whatever else they needed in addition to her wonderful hugs-- as well as firm direction when warranted. Just prior to being diagnosed with breast cancer, Scarlett had accepted a position in the employee health unit at North Mississippi Medical Center, where she was working for one of her most trusted friends and mentors, Kathy Ford. Scarlett’s illness prevented her from working in this role for long, but she absolutely loved the work and hated to leave it. She was a nurse through and through, and so many of her closest friends entered her life through this noble profession.
 
As much as she loved her work, nothing was more important to Scarlett than her family. She delighted in watching her children excel at what they loved and seeing them happy and enjoying life. She was beyond proud of them both, and the happiest days of her life were spent following Emma Rose from one softball field and tournament to the next and sharing in Clay’s joy when he had a successful day in the woods, on the lake or in the field and brought his deer, fish, turkey or other game home to show off.
 
Scarlett grew up in a close-knit family-- a bit too close knit for some, who thought us crazy for gathering most every chance we could to celebrate birthdays, graduations, special events… or for no reason at all other than to just be together. The extended family was often together as well, especially at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Some of Scarlett’s fondest memories were of weeks spent in the Smoky Mountains with 30-plus extended family members in one big cabin. Scarlett also loved the beach, and she cherished the annual sister-brother-in-law-cousin-grandparent trip there that the grandparents made possible every summer. There was always too much good seafood; at least a couple bad sunburns; a tense moment or two with dehydrated fainting adults, tents, umbrellas and coolers being taken out with the tide, or near drowning kids; and the always inevitable, “Where is TayTay’s purse… phone… medicine box… glasses.” The quantity of time together may have been cut short with her passing, but the quality time we shared is what matters and will always be treasured.
 
Scarlett was always doing for others-- even in her final months of life when she, herself, was sick and in need. She rarely missed an opportunity to coordinate or participate in events and activities at the school, ballfield, community or church. Scarlett was a member of Grace Fellowship Baptist Church, and she was so thankful for the love and support provided by Brother Danny Burks and the Grace family. Scarlett knew Jesus was her savior and strived to live each day in a way that would honor him. She made everyone she encountered feel important and special. She showed up when it mattered, had your back, and gave to those in need. She was a selfless person who delighted in the joy of others. She was thoughtful, considerate, supportive, nonjudgemental, loyal, loving and helpful. She was funny and fun-loving. She was also stubborn, dramatic, and just a bit obsessive-compulsive, but we loved her for all of it, and we are better because of it. She was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, nurse, fan and friend, and she will be forever missed.
 
It’s been said that a heart is judged not by how much it loves but how much it is loved by others. To say that Scarlett was well loved is a gross understatement. She represented the good that we all need every day in our lives, and her memory will live on through the grit of ballplayers and the roar of the crowd, the kindness and compassion of her fellow nurses, and the good in her children.
 
Scarlett is survived by her husband Kyle, children Emma Rose and Clay, parents Mike and Sharon, sister Mel, mother-in-law Jean, father-in-law Tommy, brothers-in-law Bill and Brian, sisters-in-law Cory, Alex, and Jennifer, nieces Georgia Grace and Addie, nephews Mason, Chandler, Briley and Milo, a special aunt Karen and cousins Heather and John Isaac, dearest friends Matt and Lauren, Kathy and Bo, and a host of extended family, ball family, nursing family and countless friends.
 
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Forney and Thelma Cox, paternal grandparents Jack and Helen Hathcock, father-in-law Tony Robinson, and a favorite uncle John Cox.