87, a resident of 3659 West Antioch Drive, died Sunday, Feb. 9 at Kerr Lake Rehabilitation Center. He was the son of the late Tom Lue Thornton, Sr. and Ethel Hawley Thornton. He was a retired educator. He was a member of New Hope Granville Baptist Church where he was a member of the Board of Deacons for over sixty-one years.

He is survived by his wife, Thelma Hayes Thornton; three daughters, Gloria Renee Faison of Youngsville, Andrea Barber of Broken Arrow, OK, and Jennifer Thornton of Denver, CO; a sister and two brothers,, Ila Mae Evans, James L. Thornton and Colonel Lee Thornton all of Oxford; and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, Feb. 15 at 1:00 P.M. at New Hope Granville Baptist Church by Rev. James Issac III. Burial will be in Meadowview Memorial Park. A viewing is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 14 from 11:00 A.M. until 6:00 P.M. at Wright Funeral Home. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to services at the church.