Our Momma, Pat Thornton, said goodbye to us on Sunday, July 10, 2022, headed to her Heavenly home with Jesus.
Born the first child to Francis and Louise (Viles) Park in Dighton, Massachusetts 91 years ago.
To greet her were her parents, husband of 59 years, Doyal Sr., siblings, Dorothy (Fred) Robinson, Donald Park, Nancy Miller, and Cynthia Park.
Also, her southern family: Granny and Pappa Thornton, J.B. (Elsie) Thornton, Laura Ann (Don) Wood, and many other loved ones.
Left behind for awhile are the children: Cindy (Randall) Teems, Rhonda (Chip) King, Doyal Jr. (Freda) Thornton; brother, Francis Park, Jr.; sister-in-law, Pat Park; brother-in-law, Bill (Ann) Thornton; 5 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; also, many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
After living in Boston during WWII her family returned to Taunton where she graduated from Taunton High School in 1948. After a course with Capital Airlines in Boston, she was employed by them and sent to Michigan at 18 years old to work, and later to Miami, Florida.
Upon returning home, she met her “southern soldier” stationed at Otis Air Force Base on a blind date. They lived on love letters from Germany, Japan, and Korea for 2 years. Marrying at her home on July 18, 1952, heading south with the military to Waco, Texas, and returning to the north where 2 little girls were born, and finally to the south in 1957 where a son was born.
Staying in Georgia for almost 70 years, Momma sold Cort Cosmetics around the Blackshear Place community and worked with Internal Revenue Service for 11 years while in DeKalb County. Retiring to beautiful White County, Georgia in 1985, mom and dad never met a stranger and made many new friends along life’s journey. Their days were spent ministering to others wherever they lived.
Momma will be laid to rest beside Daddy at Gateway Memory Park, after a Celebration of Life on Thursday, July 14, 2022, at 2:00 P.M. at Friendship Baptist Church in Cleveland, Georgia. Friends may visit the family from 12:30 – 2:00, before the service, at the church. Pastor Joey Pritchett will lead the service.
Nanny will be carried “The Last Mile of the Way” by her grandchildren: Shelly, Brian (Lisa), Garrett, Lindsey, Taylor (Kevin); and great grandchildren: Bailee, Jordan, Conner, Parker, Eli, Seth, Gabe, Evan, Ann Marie, Sofia, and Willow Jane.
Flowers will be acknowledged, or donations can be made to Friendship Baptist Church - 3513 Westmoreland Rd, Cleveland, GA 30528.
To share a memory or to leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.barrettfh.com
Barrett Funeral Home of Cleveland.
