Ruben Thompson March 1, 1934 - July 7, 2022

Tallahassee, Florida - Ruben Thompson began his early journey on March 1, 1934. He was the third child in the union of William (Snooks) Thompson and Marietta Macon Thompson, of Lyons, Georgia.

In 1940, Ruben and his mother relocated to Miami, Florida’s Overtown area where he attended Dade County schools. He received his former education in Overtown and Liberty City areas of Miami Dade County.

In 1953, he volunteered for the United States Army. He received an Honorable Discharge after serving three years in the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, N.C. in June of 1956.

In August of 1956, Ruben joined the City of Miami Police Department and worked out of the Overtown’s Black Police Precinct until 1962; when the City of Miami integrated The Police Department. He retired from the Miami Police Department after 28 years on April 3, 1984.

Ruben was hired out of retirement in September 1958 by the City of Opa-Locka, also in Dade County, FL as the First Fulltime Code Enforcement Department Director. During his tenure of 11 years with the City, he was temporally appointed to other vacant Administrative Positions; Acting City Manager, Acting Chief of Police and Police Commander for 8 years. He retired in 1996.

During Ruben’s early personal life, he fathered his first son, Zane Thompson with a loving personal friend; also from a previous marriage, another son Ruben Torrence Thompson in 1962 and a daughter Apryl Michelle Thompson in 1963, daughter Elonda Fisher.

In 1984, Ruben met Mary Demps Davis who became a loving and devoted friend. They were married on January 1, 1989 and resided in Hollywood, Florida until 2007. They relocated to Valdosta, Georgia in January 2007 and resided there until June of 2015 before relocating to Tallahassee, Florida until his passing on July 7, 2022.

Funeral services were July 14, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. at the Riverview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Valdosta, Georgia with Mr. W. Jay Williams presiding. We invite you to visit our website at stevensmcgheefuneralhome.com or Stevens-McGhee Funeral Home on Facebook to access livestream of the service and share condolences with the family. Stevens-McGhee Funeral Home of Quitman, Georgia was in charge of all arrangements.