Willie Rae (Price) Thornton

Willie Rae Price Thornton, 79, passed away Wednesday, September 21, 2022. She was a lifelong resident & High School graduate from Fruitdale. Willie was the eldest of her siblings. One day while walking home from school, Frank Thornton offered her a ride. She told him no thank you, but the next time he asked her she said yes. Later on in 1961, they married. At one time she worked in Fruitdale High School cafeteria, retired in 2011. Willie was a lifelong member of Fruitdale Church of the Brethren. She loved flowers, and when Frank planted gardens, she canned the vegetables. Frank, became Rev. Frank Thornton thus she became a pastors wife for over 40 years. With that role, she was a Sunday School teacher, Sunday School treasurer and she loved singing in the choir. She drove a paperwood truck to take their children to church in. Willie and Bro. Frank enjoyed traveling to church conferences and camps in North Carolina. She was a great cook, especially chicken and dumplings and cornbread. When asked what the children would miss most about Mrs. Willie, they said her humbleness, her smile & her quiet but stern position on matters sometimes. She was a strong lady that you always knew where she stood.

Survivors

Husband of 61 Years

Rev. Frank Thornton

Son

Mitchell (Gwen) Thornton

Daughters

Dewanda Thornton

Tammy (James) Odom

Kimberly (Grant) Baxter

Brothers

Doug (Barbara) Price

Maurice (Liz) Price

Gary (Judy) Price

Paul Price

Johnny Joe (Brenda) Price

Sisters

Lou (David) Beasley

Brenda (Terry) Slayter

Five Grandchildren

Amanda Crager, Miranda (Jeremy) Palmer, Mason Odom, Destin Thornton, Nolan Baxter

Seven Great Grandchildren

Cheyenne Stokes, Paisley Perryman, Addison Thornton, McKenzie Thornton, Victoria Danu,

Kaden Palmer, Parker Palmer

Preceded In Death By:

Parents ~ Marvin Ray & Margie Elizabeth Gray Price

Grandson ~ Dustin Odom 

Great Grandchildren ~ Lauryn Rice & Hunter Stokes

Pallbearers ~ James Odom, Mason Odom, Grant Baxter, Nolan Baxter, Jeremy Palmer

Honorary Pallbearers ~ Citronelle Men's Prayer Group & Stover Williams

Visitation will be Saturday, September 24, 2022, 12:00 PM ~ 1:00 PM at Fruitdale Church Of The Brethren. Funeral Service will follow at 1:00 PM with Bro. Doug Price & Bro. Maurice Price officiating and St. Stephens Funeral Home directing. Interment will be at Thornton Cemetery, 85 Thornton Road Stateline, MS.

**Willie enjoyed flowers, but for any who would like to send donations in her honor, please send to St. Jude or The Gideons**

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