Wiley Frank Thornton

Rev. Wiley Frank Thornton, 80, passed away on Friday, September 30, 2022.  He was a Mississippi native and a lifelong resident of Fruitdale, AL.  Bro. Frank was the 4th of nine siblings.  He graduated from State Line High School.  Bro. Frank loved to play basketball and earned a scholarship to play basketball in Mississippi.  He was married to the late Willie Rae Price Thornton for 61 years.  They had four children together.  Bro. Frank owned and operated a logging business and sometimes they used the logging truck to take the children to church!  In years past, Bro. Frank enjoyed hunting and fishing.  He owned race cars and would race them in Hub City, MS, and actually won some races!  Bro. Frank planted vegetable gardens and loved flowers as well.  He was a life long member of Fruitdale Brethren Church where he pastored the longest, even though he pastored several other churches during his life time.  Bro. Frank preached straight from the Bible.  He did not waiver a bit.  Bro. Frank was a member of the Citronelle Men's Prayer Group and at one time he had a jail ministry.  He had so many traits like Mrs. Willie Rae, kind, caring, humble.....He always wore his watch and always kept his cross in his pocket.  Bro. Frank loved his family, all the grans and great grands.  He was a sweet and loving husband who would make Mrs. Willie Rae breakfast on her birthday and give her flowers and and a special poem that he had written just for her!

Survivors:

Son  Mitchell (Gwen) Thornton

Daughters  Dewanda Thornton

Tammy (James) Odom

Kimberly (Grant) Baxter

Brothers  Bruce (Bernice) Thornton and  Glen (Pam) Thornton

Sisters

 Lillian Webb; Marie (Roger) Hall; Gladys (Tommy) Delk; Brenda (Larry) Crager; Phyllis Thornton

Preceded in Death by: Wife of 61 Years ~ Willie Rae Price Thornton

Parents;  Alex Thornton and Della Hare Thornton

Grandson; Dustin Odom

Great Grandchildren; Hunter Stokes and Lauryn Rice

Brother; Gene Thornton 

Sister; Rosetta Dearman

There will be a wake, Sunday evening, 6-8 PM, October 2, 2022, at Fruitdale Brethren Church, Fruitdale, AL.  Funeral Service  (no visitation) will be Monday, October 3, 2022, at 10:00 AM, at Fruitdale Brethren Church.  Interment will be at the Thornton Family Cemetery, State Line, MS.

Officiating will be Bro. Maurice Price and Bro. Steven Petcher with St. Stephens Funeral Home directing.

Pallbearers; James Odom, Mason Odom, Grant Baxter, Nolan Baxter

Honorary Pallbearers; Steven Williams, Dr. John McAndrew, III, Willie Williams

Flowers are nice but donations may be made to Fruitdale Brethren Church.

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