Memorial set for Beaufort teen who died after underage party

A memorial service for a Whale Branch Early College High School senior who died Sunday will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in Beaufort.

The memorial for William Thompson, 18, will take place at Community Bible Church, 638 Parris Island Gateway.

“We cannot thank you all enough for everyone's compassion and support,” Thompson’s caretaker, Colleen Reedy, wrote on Facebook in an announcement of the service. “We are truly overwhelmed by your love.”

Thompson’s funeral will take place in Harrisburg, Pa., where his mother moved in October to care for his ailing grandmother. Thompson moved in with Reedy, the mother of a close friend, to finish his senior year in Beaufort.

The 18-year-old died early Sunday morning after returning home from an underage drinking party on Parris Island Gateway. That event and those responsible for furnishing minors with alcohol, remain under investigation.

Thompson’s exact cause of death is unknown, pending the results of toxicology reports by the Medical University of South Carolina.

This story was originally published April 13, 2016 at 9:09 AM with the headline "Memorial set for Beaufort teen who died after underage party."