George C. Thornton
George C. Thornton, 99, of Gray, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. Funeral services were at Bradley Baptist Church, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 with the Rev. Steve Johnson officiating.
The family greeted friends at Bradley Baptist Church Friday, September 6, 2024. Burial at Bradley Baptist Church Cemetery followed the service.
George was born to the late William Hillyer Young Thornton and Elizabeth Fletcher Thornton in Campbell County (now Fulton County), Georgia. He was the third child in a family of nine. Educated in Fulton County Schools, George graduated from Campbell High School in Fairburn, in 1942, where he served as president of his Senior Class. He could still name all 64 classmates and their spouses.
George proudly served in the U.S. Merchant Marines for three years during World War II in both the Atlantic and Pacific war zones.
After the war, in 1947, George moved to Macon where he met his devoted wife of 71 years, the former Miss Frances Nabers. Frances was a Macon peach, and for George, it was love at first sight. They were married July 10, 1949 in the First Baptist Church of Macon where they were both members.
George and Frances moved to Jones County on Morton Road in 1954. Later, they bought the Jessie Glawson farm in Bradley, where they lived for 66 years. George loved his farm, and he supported it over the years in many ways, such as with dairy cows and milk production, running a grocery store, having a construction company, hay production, and working as a mail carrier for the Postal Service (from which he retired after 28 years).
He was a member of the Masonic Serenity Lodge# 430 for 52 years. George was a faithful member of Bradley Baptist Church for over 66 years where he served as a Deacon and had the distinction of being the oldest church member. He leaves a lasting legacy for his family, his church, and his community. He was one of the founding members of the Jones County Lions Club.
George is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 71 years, Frances Thornton; four brothers, Milton Thornton (Anne), Bob Thornton (Doll), Jessie Thornton, and Ed Thornton; two sisters, Martha Thornton Bell (Howard), and Lucy Thornton; brothers-in-law, Douglas White and Johnny Morris; sister-in-law, Martha Duffy Thornton; daughter-in-law, Deborah Smith Thornton; grandson, Luke Thornton; and great-granddaughter, Brianna Thornton.
George is survived by his daughter, Jan Greene (Norm) of Gray, sons, Neil Thornton (Margaret) of Gray, Sam Thornton (Joan) of Monticello, Paul Thornton (Ellen) of Dahlonega; Ed Thornton (Lee) of Dalton, Joe Thornton (Tanya) of Gray, sisters, Mary White of John’s Creek, Sara Morris of Gray; sisters-in-law, Margaret Ann Thornton, Joan Thornton; 12 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bradley Baptist Church at www.bbcgray.org.
Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.
Hart’s Jones County Chapel, Hart’s Mortuary and Cremation Center, 307 Pecan Lane, Gray, GA 31032 has charge of arrangements.