MT. VERNON - Mrs. Christina Howie Harris "Chris" Thigpen, 81, of Mt. Vernon, died Wednesday, December 09, 2009 in the Community Hospice House in Vidalia after an extended illness. She was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, U.K., and lived and worked in London, England. In 1951 she met her husband Max while he was stationed in the Air Force, and they married in 1953 in Windsor, England. After their marriage they lived in Macon for three years and have resided in Mt. Vernon since 1957. She was the owner and operator of Chris' Flower Shop in Mt. Vernon for twenty-one years, and was a member of the Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church. Mrs. Thigpen is survived by her husband of fifty-six years, Max Thigpen of Mt. Vernon; two sons, LaFaye Thigpen (Bee) of Byron, and Kevin Thigpen (Laura) of Bishop; one brother, Jack Harris of Cambridge, England, seven grandchildren, Katie, Laura, Kimsey (Josh) Golden, Max, Jean-Paul LaFleur (Samantha), Caroline LaFleur and Kim L. Strickland (Eric), five great-grandchildren, Zachary and Lucus LaFleur, and Jackson, Anna, and Charlotte Strickland, numerous nieces, nephews, and three special longtime friends, Lila Gibbs, Betty Massey, and Maureen Reynolds. Funeral services will be held Friday, December 11th at 3:00 pm in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Reverend David Haygood, Reverend Bobby Thompson officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Vernon City Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday evening from 6:00 until 9:00. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Community Hospice, P. O. Box 2277, Vidalia, Ga. 30475. www.RonaldVHall.com Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home, Vidalia. Savannah Morning News (SMN), Thursday, December 10, 2009.