Gladys Marie (Edwards) Thornton

Gladys Marie Edwards Thornton, age 92, passed away at Davis Nursing Home in Wilmington, NC, on March 26, 2018. 

 Gladys was born January 6, 1926, in Anson County, NC and was the youngest child of the late Brackston and Annie Hill Edwards.  Gladys graduated from Burnsville

High School and the Carolina Business School in Charlotte.  She was employed in the office of Southern Bell in Charlotte until she met and married Robert B. Thornton there in 1948.  Gladys and Robert later moved to Clinton where they raised a family and Robert took over the operation of Sampson Cotton Warehouse and eventually started a moving and storage company in Goldsboro. After Robert’s passing, Gladys moved to Goldsboro to help oversee his business there. Gladys was a member of First Baptist Church in Clinton and later of Madison Avenue Baptist Church in Goldsboro.  She will always be remembered by her family as a loving mother and grandmother.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband Robert, her daughter Joyce Thornton Boone, her grandson Samuel Thornton Boone, her parents, and her ten siblings.

Surviving are her daughter Linda T. Davidson of Wilmington, NC, her son David E. Thornton of Elizabeth, Colorado, her son and daughter-in-law Joseph R. and Laura H. Thornton of Short Hills, New Jersey, her grandson John R. Thornton of Los Angeles, California and her granddaughters Caroline I. Thornton, Grace A. Thornton, and Rachel H. Thornton, all of Short Hills, New Jersey.

A memorial service will be held Saturday March 31, 2018 at 2:00 PM at Royal-Hall Funeral Home Chapel, 301 McKoy Street, Clinton, NC with Dr. Ray Ammons officiating, with a reception following. 

 The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution can do so to the charity of his or her choice.

  Royal-Hall is honored to serve the Thornton family.

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