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School parapro 'Tori' Thompson mourned after accident
Tori Thompson
Victoria “Tori” Thompson

Many Hall County school employees were in mourning Thursday over a Wednesday wreck that claimed the life of a paraprofessional who is the daughter of two longtime school administrators.

Victoria "Tori" Thompson, 30, died in a single-car accident around 3:15 p.m. Wednesday while driving home from Chicopee Woods Elementary School, school spokesman Gordon Higgins said.

Thompson was the daughter of Chestatee High School Principal Bill Thompson and Flowery Branch High School Assistant Principal Linda Thompson. She worked for the school system since 2005 and was a special education pre-K paraprofessional at Chicopee Woods.

Chicopee Woods Elementary Principal Janet Adams said she began calling faculty with the news of the wreck Wednesday night. Staff members met at the school early Thursday morning to grieve and offer prayers to Bill and Linda Thompson and their family, Adams said.

"Everyone here loved Tori," Adams said. "She was so loving and dedicated to the children. We are all extremely saddened by this devastating loss."

Adams said the school had extra counselors on hand and set up a room where students and faculty could go to share their grief.

According to the state patrol, Thompson apparently lost control of her car not far from the school on Calvary Church Road near its intersection with Barber Road. The car ran off the road, came abruptly to a stop and she was ejected. No one else was involved in the accident.

In addition to her parents, Tori Thompson is survived by siblings Matt Thompson, Leigh Thompson Wilson, Phillip Thompson and Billy Thompson.

"Because of the family’s long and dedicated service to the boys and girls of Hall County, the grief generated by this tragic loss extends across the entire community," Higgins said.

Little-Davenport Funeral Home is handling funeral arrangements. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

The funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in the name of Tori Thompson to the American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association or Eagle Ranch.