Charlis Jeannene Thompson, 71, of Fairmount, Ga died on 8 Nov 2023 at AdventHealth Gordon Hospital, Calhoun, GA.  She was born at Forbes AFB, Kansas May 30, 1952.  Charlis is survived by her husband of 45 years, Joseph Thompson, Fairmount, GA and a daughter Meredith (Steven) Elliott of Walnut Hill, FL and a son Keith Thompson of Blairsville, GA.  She also was survived by a nephew, Col Marshall Ecklund of Miami, FL. She was predeceased by her parents LTC Charles Ecklund and Jean Ecklund of Nashville, TN and a brother Doug Ecklund of Nashville.

Charlis was born into a military family and grew up on military bases in the United States and Japan.  She graduated high school in Nashville, TN and later obtained an undergraduate degree from Emory University, Atlanta, GA and a masters degree from Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA.

She started her career as a math teacher in metro Atlanta.  She then worked for three federal agencies, US Consumer Product Safety Commission, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and finished her career at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  She retired in 2007 as the Communications Director of the CDC s National Immunization Program.  She ran a team charged with promoting the national influenza vaccination campaign and the national childhood vaccination program.

A graveside tribute to Charlis will be held at 11:00, Nov 27,2023, at Eastview Cemetery, Shellman, GA