Birth Date: 01/14/1937
Deceased Date: 04/25/2023
Smithfield – William “Bill” Edmon Thornton, age 86, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Wake Medical Center in Raleigh. Born, January 14, 1937, in Sampson County, he was a son of the late Ivy Edmond Thornton and Anniebelle Jackson Thornton. He is preceded in death by his brothers, Delma Ray Thornton, and Bernice Thornton; sisters, Faye Pope, and Edith Britt.
Bill was a member and a deacon at the Pine Level Pentecostal Holiness Church for many years, he loved serving his Lord and he always told people about his Savior. Bill enjoyed cutting grass and would make sure that elders in the community had their yards mowed. He was a loving and devoted family man and he enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids. Bill worked for Carolina Packers Inc. for many years and he loved their hotdogs too. He also loved grilling chicken for folks and riding the grandkids on his lawn mower. Bill was a godly, family man and he will be missed by all his family and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Parrish Funeral Home in Selma, with the burial to follow in the Hills of the Neuse Memory Gardens in Smithfield. The family will visit with friends one hour prior to the service beginning at 2:00 p.m.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years Mrs. Ruth Kennedy Thornton; daughters, Donna Capps (Wesley) of Smithfield, Gina Davis (Craig) of Smithfield, Carol Gunter (John) of Smithfield; brothers, Bryan Thornton (LaRena) of Raleigh, Jerry Thornton (Pat) of Smithfield, Glenn Thornton (Debbie) of Newton Grove; sisters, Lottie Corbett of Newton Grove and Ida Mozingo of Smithfield; grandchildren, Lara Jackson (Chris), Ryan Capps (girlfriend, Stormy Williams), Savannah Stewart, Chyann Gunter, Brooke Stewart and Alyssa Capps; great-grandchildren, Lucas Barbour, Thomas Jackson, Andrew Jackson and “Pa’s little girl”, Makenna Jackson; many nieces and nephews as well as extended family, Shauna Lee (Kelvin), Antonio Blake, Janet and Madelyn Johnson, Jacey Velazquez, Tonia Puckett, Mataya Grimes and Joaquin Trejo.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Pine Level P.H. Church at 112 E Blanche St, Pine Level, NC 27568.
