Henry T. Thornton Jr.

1933 - 2025

Henry T. Thornton, Jr. passed away peacefully on July 1, 2025. Henry was born on October 3, 1933, to Henry T. Thornton, Sr. and Lula Cagle Thomas of Utica, Mississippi. Henry grew up in Utica and attended Utica High School where he graduated in 1951.

In July of 1953, Henry joined the U. S. Air Force and served for 4 years during the Korean War. Afterwards, he attended Hinds Community College and then graduated from Mississippi College where he received double degrees in math and physics. He worked as a physicist with the Concrete Division, US Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station. Henry retired from that position in 1989.

Henry felt the call of God and entered the ministry as a local pastor in the United Methodist Church. For ten years he served part time in nearby churches and, during summers, he attended Candler Theological Seminary in Atlanta. Post retirement, he continued to serve as a full-time pastor in the United Methodist Church. He served churches in Rocky Springs, Carlisle, Northview (in Vicksburg), Bovina, Edwards, Trinity (Jackson) and West Park (Jackson), and retired while serving in the Fayette community.

Henry also served as an adjunct instructor in the math department for Hinds Community College and was Chair of the Quality Assurance Technology program at Hinds. He worked for the Mississippi State Health Department (MSDH) as an instructor for the Water Supply Division and performed contract work at ERDC for several firms placing scientists, engineers and technicians in ERDC laboratories until his final retirement in March of 2015.

Henry had a long and productive career. He loved his work and was excited to meet each new challenge. He loved his family, friends, and colleagues. He was well aware and thankful for the blessings God provided. He had many friends, colleagues, and lunch-buddies at ERDC and in Vicksburg. After his final retirement at ERDC, he had many work-out buddies and made many friends at the Healthplex in Clinton, where he loved to work out and socialize.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents, Henry T. Thornton, Sr. and Lula Cagle Thomas. He is survived by his wife, Martha Kirk Thornton, his sons; Gregory(Greg)(Carol) and William (Terry) (Stacey); his daughter, Tiffany Thornton Kopfinger (Peter); his grandchildren; Gregory and Lee Thornton, Tatum, Libby, and Allen Kopfinger, Austin Usury, Jake, Allie and Logan Thornton; great grandsons; Ethan and Parker Thornton.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home in Clinton, MS. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM, with a service to follow in the chapel at 11:00 AM.

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