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Stephen Thornton Obituary

PFAFFTOWN - The Rev. Dr. Stephen Tyrone Thornton, 36, of 4110 Crestview Place Drive died Oct. 21, 2002, at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro. The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, 2002, at Phillips Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. Burial will be at Danville Memorial Gardens in Danville, Va. He was born March 20, 1966, in Rockingham County to James and Mary Thornton in Cascade, Va. He was a graduate of Tunstall High School and received his doctorate degree from Jacksonville Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, Fla. He married the former Portia Patterson on Aug. 6, 1988. The Rev. Thornton was a member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Cascade, Va., and the senior pastor of Phillips Chapel Missionary Baptist in Winston-Salem. In addition to his wife of the residence, he is survived by a daughter, Tashemia Rashel, and son TaShan Ra'quis, also of the residence; his parents, James and Mary Thornton of Cascade, Va.; a brother, Kenneth Lyle Thornton (Evonda) of Cascade, Va.; nieces Brittney Thornton of Cascade, Va., and Kailyn and Kristen Patterson, both of Maryland; a nephew, Kenneth L. Thornton Jr. of Cascade, Va., his father and mother-in-law, James and Frances Patterson of Cascade, Va.; a brother-in-law, Shawn Patterson (Stacy) of Maryland; sisters-in-law Toni Smith (Brian) of Eden and Crystal Patterson of Cascade, Va.; and a host of relatives and friends. His remains will be placed at Shiloh Baptist Church in Cascade, Va., at 5 p.m. today for viewing, with the family receiving friends from 7 to 8 p.m. at the church. He will be placed at Phillips Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem on Saturday at 11 a.m. for viewing, with family receiving friends from noon to 1 p.m. before the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a trust for his children, c/o Mrs. Portia P. Thornton, 4110 Crestview Place Drive, Pfafftown, NC 27040. Arrangements entrusted to Perry-Spencer Funeral Home in Eden.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Winston-Salem Journal on Oct. 25, 2002.

Memories and Condolences
for Stephen Thornton

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Patrice Marshall

February 4, 2017

He was my pastor the time he was at the chapel he miss so much I love n miss him so much I never for get him he him chagw my life n his loving wife n kids.love n miss y'all always.church girl

River Zion Family

November 4, 2002

Dear Mrs. Thornton,

The family of the River Zion Baptist Church want you and your family to know that we too miss Pastor Thornton. We are all glad to have known him . He was a great man. May God forever bless you. We will continue to pray for you .

Belinda.Tangela, Felicia.Breanna Elliott

October 30, 2002

I want to let U know that you and your family are in our prays.I can't believe he is gone. Tangela and Felicia and of course Breanna and my self are glad that he came into our lives.Pastor Thornton brought us a lot of life ,joy and happines. Pastor Thornton was a very down the earth minster.He made his sermons very under standing and put it in away that you could apply it to your everyday life.Paster Thornton encourged us to reach for higher heights and deeper depths. He was more then a Pastor ,he was a friend someone who was there for you no matter what.He will be truely missed..........Elliott Family

Lee Brown

October 30, 2002

Dear Family,

What a great young man has left us! I was at Phillips Chapel on his first Sunday as pastor. He was filled with so much energy as he sang and preached our souls happy. Right now it seems like so much of a loss, not only for you and the church but Winston-Salem also. Keep in mind that God has a master plan that we are all involved in. God is still a leaning post that has stood and sustained people throughout the ages. Our prayers are with you all.

Lee Brown

Woodrow and Olivia Poteat

October 28, 2002

We hold the Mrs. Thorton, her children and ALL those who knew and loved Dr. Thorton up in prayer. May his dreams and gifts live on through the lives he has touched. May God bless this family to find strenght and comfort in knowing that he is with Jesus...watching over them. "Lord, hold this family close to each other and closer to You that the hurt and the voidness will be healed by Thee". Amen!

David and Roberta Nickelson

October 27, 2002

Our prayers go to God for you for guided strength, understanding, and acceptance. May your family and friends be a special comfort to you not just for now, but in the weeks, months, and years to come.

Dwight Wilkerson

October 26, 2002

Lady Portia,TaShemia&TaShan:

My heart and prayers go out to you during this time of bereavement.I will always have a special place in my heart for "Pastah" and for you all. We really had some good times together and I am so thankful to God that He allowed us to meet and become friends. I am so grateful that you allowed me to get to know you all on a more personal level than just a spritual one. "Tyrone" helped me in so many ways and for that I will never forget him. Remember that I will always love and be there for you. Hopefully, we can have some more good times together! Love, "Pappy"

Artissa Rowdy

October 26, 2002

WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE THORNTON & PHILLIPS CHAPEL CHURCH FAMILIES IN YOUR TIME OF BEREAVMENT. MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS AND KEEP YOU ALWAYS. YOU ARE FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS.

THE ROWDY & LIVINGSTON FAMILIES

(FAMILY OF PATRICK T. LIVINGSTON)

Angie Bennett

October 26, 2002

To the Thornton Family,

You may not know me, but I have heard Rev. Tyrone Thornton preach on many occasions. I am deeply saddened by his death. My prayers are with you during this time of sorrow. We must remember that God has a plan for all of us and He'll see you through. May God Continue to Bless You All!

nathan johnson

October 25, 2002

My deepest prayers and condolences go out to the Thorton family. Tyrone played a valuable part in my life. All I can do is remember the funny conversations that we use to have when I use to travel and play drums for him. He was the Man!!!! Miss you TY.

Minister Ryan Pickard

October 25, 2002

Lady Portia and Family, I pray that the Lord will comfort you in your time of loss. Just know that earth has no sorrow that heaven can not heal.

Shederia Henderson

October 25, 2002

Portia,

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May God bless & keep you.

Cyndi Fitzgerald

October 25, 2002

To the Thornton family, the prayers of the Guildfield Missionary Baptist Church Youth Ministry are with you. We loved Pastor Thornton and we looked forward to every time he came to preach for us. If there is ever anything we can do for you, you need only to ask.

Arnetta Dalton

October 25, 2002

May God bless you in your time of bereavement. Love the Dalton and Johnson Family.

Joel & Ann McIver

October 25, 2002

Portia:



God bless you and your children and comfort you during this difficult period. Know that we are praying for you and are here if there is anything we can do for you. Bless you.



Your neighbours Joel & Ann McIver

MR LUTHER AND MONICA MCKOY JONES AND SHIRLITA TILLMAN AND DENISE MCKOY, SHIBRE WILSON AND LESHAD JOHNSON

October 25, 2002

JEREMIAH 15:16

THY WORDS WERE FOUND, AND I DID EAT THEM; AND THY WORD WAS UNTO ME THE JOY AND REJOICING OF MINE HEART; FOR I AM CALLED BY THY NAME, O LORD GOD OF HOSTS.

GOD WILL GIVE YOU STRENGTH, WE LOVE YOU WITH ALL OUR HEARTS.

LEE AND CAROL MCKOY MRS. WEBSTER AND HATTEN FAMILY

October 25, 2002

MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU, AND WE WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE LOVE YOU ALL.

DEE MCKOY

October 25, 2002

FIST LADY MRS THRONTON, TASHEMIA, TASHAN AND PARENTS ALSO BROTHERS AND

SISTER.

MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU ALWAYS, PASTAH T WAS A TRUE MAN OF GOD AND

GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH WE ALL LOVED HIM.

I THANK GOD FOR HOW HE TOUCH SO MANY PEOPLE IN SO MANY WAYS. PEOPLE THAT LOST HOPE AND PEOPLE THAT DID NOT KNOW THE WAY.

IT MEANS A LOT TO EVERYONE WHEN YOU HAVE A PASTAH THAT CARES FOR EVERYONE NOT JUST SELECTIVE PEOPLE, A TRUE MAN OF GOD THAT LIVED THE LIFE HE PREACHED ABOUT , BEING MADE WHOLE AND HAVING YOUR MIND FOCUSED ON THE LORD AND HOW PRAYER WAS THE KEY.

ACTS 3:16 AND HIS NAME THROUGH FAITH IN HIS NAME HATH MADE THIS MAN STRONG, WHOM YE SEE AND KNOW: YEA, THE FAITH WHICH IS BY HIM HATH GIVEN HIM THIS PERFECT SOUNDNESS IN PRESENCE OF ALL YOU.



DEE, MYIA, LEWUN,LENARD, MCKOY

LOVES YOU ALL!

Carlton,Tomeka and Caitlin Allen

October 25, 2002

Lady Portia,Tashemia,and Tashan,

Our prayers are with you now and always. God has taken a special person away from this world in order to have Pastor T. with him. We all know that God makes no mistakes and this life is only temporarily but eternal life is with him. I,Tomeka can't express how much of an impact that you and Pastor T. has made in my life. I now can take the past memories; laugh and cry but continue on for the Lord. I have a new outlook on life through Pastor's death and I am going to live each day like it's my last. Because knowing Pastor T. that's exactly what he did.

We love you!

Alice Summers

October 25, 2002

God Bless His "Family and Friends

gwendolyn glenn

October 25, 2002

May God Bless your family in such a difficult time

Denise Marshall

October 25, 2002

We wish offer our sincere condolenst to the family and church family. I had the opportunity to meet and hear Dr. Thorton at the yourth causade concert which I attended with my daughter and a couple of her little friends. I could truley tell he was a man of God from the moment he greeted us. My Church is Union Chapel Baptist church and we have injoyed much felowship with Phillips Chapel in the past and over the the last couple of years the Cluster Revial. Our prayers will continue to be with the family and church family.

Grecia King

October 25, 2002

Pastor Thornton will be deeply missed by all that he has touched. I extend my deepest condolences to Lady Portia and the children and family. He was an extraordinary man and now God has called him home to for him to be with him. Even though we feel at a lost without him he is rejoying in the light of the Lord. He touched my now three years old heart. She was always ready to go see Pastor and to give him a kiss. She as well as my family and the Phillph's Chapel family will miss him. God Bless you and your family.

Marvin, Grecia, Bryson, Tatyana, and Ari King

Tammy Simon

October 25, 2002

I pray that God's peace will endow you during your time of bereavement. May your hearts be comforted in knowing that God loves and cares for you.

STEPHANIE WALKER

October 25, 2002

MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY. MAY GOD KEEP YOU AND BLESS YOU IN YOUR TIME OF NEED.

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