Briana Rae Thompson

Briana Rae Thompson of Navarre, Florida passed away Monday, December 9th, 2019 at the Ft. Walton Beach Medical Center after a brief illness.  Briana was born August 5th, 1977 in Thomaston, Georgia to Janet McSwain Stackhouse and Glenn Alden Thompson, Jr.  Briana was 42 years old.

Briana, as most called her “Bri”, grew up in Griffin, Georgia as well as Dothan, Alabama where she graduated from Northview High School in 1995 where she was named in the “Who’s Who of American High School Students” publication for her academic achievements in the high school arena.  Bri continued her education at George C. Wallace Community College majoring in nursing and later transferred to the University of Central Florida (UCF) where she continued her education in the medical field.  Bri was fascinated with the human body and especially the mind, and later pursued and obtained her Certification for Medical Coding and worked in that field for several years.  She recently became certified by the Academy of Addiction Professionals for her successful completion of clinical evaluation so as to continue her passion of helping others as they struggled.

Bri’s associations through her life took her to Pensacola where she spent many years helping others who were struggling with addiction.  She gained much gratification from her work as she saw others grow from addiction and away to better lives.  New Beginnings of Pensacola brought a new type of family into Bri’s life.  Chris Echsner and Allison Schilling became “her people” and she loved them both dearly. 

Bri loved animals and especially her dogs, Hope and Rebel, as she shared her life with her soulmate, Jason McCawley.  Music was a huge part of Bri’s life as well and she got to check off one from her bucket list just recently as she got to witness Kenny Chesney in concert.   Bri loved Kenny Chesney’s music and even named a pair of pants she once loved wearing as “Her Chesney’s”.  Bri also loved Georgia Tech Football and had recently adopted the Saint Louis Cardinals as her baseball team so she could also share this love of the team with Jason.

Briana is preceded in death by her Grandmother, Edith Sykes, her Great Uncle John Woodall, Grandparents Louise and Glenn Thompson, Sr. and the best Step-Dad ever, Tracy Stackhouse.  Those two had a special bond and Tracy had his own nickname for Briana as she loved to be called “Breezy”.  Tracy was instrumental in many of Briana’s successes and they shared that love of music until his death in 2008.

Briana Rae Thompson is survived by her parents, Janet Stackhouse and Glenn Thompson, as well as CE Frazier who she became to love as a father as well.  Also surviving is her soulmate Jason McCawley, two aunts, Lynn (Randy) Wilson and Priscilla Conger, Step-Sister Barbara Stackhouse, many cousins and her precious dogs Hope and Rebel.

A memorial service will be held for Briana Rae Thompson at some time in the near future and that information will be communicated through social media.  Anyone wishing to make a donation in honor of Briana’s life you may do so to your favorite charity or you may continue Briana’s passion and donate to any addiction-based charity.

Expressions of love and sympathy may be placed and viewed online at www.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com

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