Joseph Charles Thornton, Jr.

Joseph Charles Thornton, Jr. of Gainesville died on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at the age of 82.  He was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, the son of the late Joseph and Dorothy Thornton.

He graduated from Holston High School in 1960.  Joe graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration from The University of Tennessee in 1964, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity.  He was also a graduate of the Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI, and the Naval Supply Corps School in Athens, GA.  He served as a Lt. j.g. in the United States Navy.

Joe started his career in the building and development industry, later developing his own business consulting firm.

Joe was a life-long Episcopalian and a communicant of Grace Episcopal Church since 1972.

Joe is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sandra Dean Thornton; sons: James and wife, Audrey, Waltham, Massachusetts; Matthew and wife, Uljana, Lake Oswego, Oregon; grandchildren: Meg Thornton Williams and husband, Ran Williams, Liberty Hill, Texas; Chandler, Anna, and Emily; brother: Phillip and wife, Jann, La Vergne, Tennessee; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family is grateful to Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center for their loving and compassionate care.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 7th, at Grace Episcopal Church. The family will receive friends in the parish hall following the service.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Episcopal Church, 422 Brenau Avenue, Gainesville, GA 30501.

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com.

Little & Davenport Funeral Home, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Georgia 30501 is in charge of arrangements.