Richard B. Thornton

Richard B. Thornton, 86, passed away Tuesday, September 11, 2012. Memorial services will be held at 3:00 PM Friday at Vineville United Methodist Church. Burial will be private for family only in Riverside Cemetery. Dr. Marcus Tripp and Rev. Jimmy Duke will officiate. The family will greet friends from 5 until 7 PM Thursday at Snow’s Memorial Chapel, Cherry Street and will also greet friends following the memorial service on Friday at the church. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to The Methodist Home for Children and Youth, 304 Pierce Avenue, Macon 31204.

Mr. Thornton was born in Parrott, Georgia, the son of the late Jimmie Lawhorn Thornton and John Thomas Thornton. He attended the University of South Carolina and graduated with a BS Degree. Mr. Thornton ran track and played basketball for four years at the University of South Carolina. He attended Mercer University on the GI Bill and played basketball for Mercer as well. He graduated from the Walter F. George School of Law, and was a United States veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict. Mr. Thornton was a JAG officer in the Navy.

Mr. Thornton was a member of Adams, O'Neal, Steele, Thornton, and Hemingway Law Firm and practiced the legal profession until he was 83 years old. He was honored by Georgia Legal Services for his many years of legal representation of indigent clients in 2008. Mr. Thornton was a past president of the Macon Legal Aid Society, National Director of the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce, member of the Macon Jaycees, member of the Kiwanis Club of Macon for fifty-two years, past Sergeant of Arms of the Macon Kiwanis Club, recipient of the William Jacob Little Award and served in the Georgia General Assembly two terms in the House of Representatives from Bibb County. He revised the Georgia Criminal Code, was a member of the 1983 Bibb County Consolidation Study Committee, a member of the Board of Governors State Bar of Georgia, and a member of the Georgia Bar Association for fifty years.

Mr. Thornton was Judge Pro Hac Civil Court of Bibb County, Judge Pro Hac Juvenile Court of Bibb County, Judge Pro Hac State Court of Bibb County, Judge Pro Hac Municipal Court of Macon, Judge Pro Hac Civil Court of Bibb County, Past Member of Idle Hour Country Club, member of Vineville United Methodist Church and a member of Mack Anthony Sunday School Class.

Mr. Thornton is survived by his wife, Sue Fitts Thornton of Macon; children, Ric (Kari) Thornton of Macon, Mike (Renee) Thornton of Macon and Terry (Pat) Rabun of Macon; eight grandchildren, Josh and Jesse Thornton, Tamara York, Ben Thornton, Kate Thornton, Jake Thornton, Caroline Rabun and Rebekah Rabun; two great-grandchildren, Anderson York and Evelyn York.

Visit www.snowsmacon.com to express tributes.

Snow’s Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Services, Cherry Street, has charge of arrangements.