Wendell and Sheryl Thompson have spent decades in service to their community, through faith, public leadership, and civic engagement. In 2025, they took that commitment a step further, joining the Legacy Society to ensure their commitment to service continues forever.

Wendell, a Flint Northern High School graduate, retired from General Motors and now serving as pastor of First Church of God in Romeo. Sheryl built a 30-year career with the State of Michigan’s Department of Human Services, rising through leadership roles at both the local and state levels. Her work took on urgency during the Flint water crisis, when she served as the MDHHS Task Force Lead, coordinating the State’s response while living it as a Flint resident herself.

Sheryl remains active in the community as the chair of the American Red Cross of East Central Bay Michigan, board member of the Crim Fitness Foundation, and capital campaign manager for Berston Field House.

Wendell and Sheryl are both certified handlers for their therapy dog, Nyla, and volunteer with Mid-Michigan Therapy Dogs Inc., affectionately known as “Angels with Paws.”

For both Thompsons, service is something they’ve always believed in.                                                                                                                                                           
“Giving back has always been part of who I am,” Sheryl said. “I grew up watching people in my family and community take care of one another, not because they had extra, but because they understood what it meant to show up. I came to understand giving not as charity, but as responsibility, a way of honoring the blessings I’ve received by making sure others have access to opportunity, dignity, and hope.”

Wendell shares that sense. A self-described proud Flintstone, he sees his hometown as the foundation of everything he’s become.

“Flint will always be home for me, not just the place where I grew up, but the community that shaped my values, my faith, and my understanding of what it means to serve,” he said. “This city made me who I am.”

The Thompsons were officially inducted into the Legacy Society on June 18, 2025 at the annual Legacy Society Luncheon, joining a group of donors who have chosen to include CFGF in their estate plans.

“I chose to include the Community Foundation in my estate plans because I believe deeply in planting seeds that will outlive me,” Sheryl said. “The Foundation has always been a trusted steward for this community — a place where resources are managed with integrity, transparency, and a long-term vision for Flint’s future.”

Wendell frames it simply: “Flint invested in me. This is my way of investing back.”

Looking ahead, both are clear about what they hope their gift makes possible. “My hope is that my legacy gift helps create opportunities that lift people up, especially our young people who deserve every chance to succeed,” Wendell said. “A legacy gift is a statement of belief, a belief that Flint’s best days are still ahead.”