James Thorington

James Hunter Thorington, Sr. 90, of Homewood, AL died May 6, 2023. James (Jim) was born in Bessemer, AL on March 19, 1933 to James Arthur and Evelyn Porter Thorington. Jim graduated Bessemer High School in 1951 and earned a degree in Architecture in 1956 from Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn) before serving in the US Air Force as a Weapons Director with the Tactical Air Command where he served in Texas, South Carolina, and oversees in Adana, Turkey during the Lebanese Crisis of 1957. In 1959 Jim began his 39-year career as a Professional Architect where he designed private residences, and numerous commercial properties including 14 projects at Birmingham Southern College, and other religious and educational buildings. Jim was preceded in death by his daughter Martha Lynn Thorington.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years Cornelia (Connie) Collins Thorington (daughter of Chalmers Davidson and Julia Foster Collins of Homewood), son James Hunter Thorington, Jr. (Susan Leigh) of Vestavia Hills, AL, grandchildren Hunter Leigh Thorington (Caitlin Brennan) of Opelika, AL, Amy Thorington Horton (Dylan) of McCalla, AL, and Julie Rebecca Freeman (Chase) of Southaven, MS. He has five great grandchildren, MaryBrennan Grace Thorington, Porter Alphons Thorington, Emily Claire Freeman, Deacon Ray Horton, Douglas Clark Thorington.

Jim served as a Deacon at Southminster Presbyterian Church (SPC) Vestavia Hills, AL, and loved travel, especially the US Southwest region, Native American Indian art, the Rocky and Smoky mountains, photography, reading history, trains and planes; he built model railroads and scale model airplanes, and loved his local church family, church music, and European church cathedral architecture, big band era music, and of course dogs. Jim requested memorial gifts be given to SPC or Camp Winnataska, where he met Connie and worked as a Blackfoot and they both volunteered as Chico Camp Directors for many years.

Jim will be buried at Elmwood Cemetery on Tuesday, May 16th at 10:00 am with a graveside service only. Friends and family are invited to celebrate a wonderful life lived on this earth. Services are under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel (205-879-3401) in Homewood.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutsvalleychapel.com for the Thorington family.