William T Thornton

William Taylor Thornton was born on August 17, 1920 at Campton, Georgia, in Walton County, at the home place that had been farmed for many generations of his family. His father was Durward Lafayette Thornton, and his mother, Dora Laseter Thornton. He was named for a great uncle, William Taylor Laseter, who along with many others in his family had fought in the Civil War.

His family moved to Atlanta, Georgia when he was five years old and he attended local schools and Monroe A & M. He then began work at Southern Railroad as a fireman on steam engines.

In January 1943 he volunteered for the U.S. Navy. After training for the Naval Landing Force, he served until 1945 in the South Pacific. When he returned to work for Southern Railroad he was promoted to Engineer. He kept on night runs to use days to buy and sell cars. He opened a used car lot on Bankhead Highway in 1947. Later on he became the only Hudson dealer in Atlanta and was also one of only two dealers in Atlanta to sell foreign cars.

He became interested in Douglas County when he read that I-20 was going to extend that far. He bought the Chevrolet-Oldsmobile dealership in Douglas County in 1957. Soon after coming to Douglasville Bill became a member of the Board of Directors of the Commercial Bank. He also became active in the Chamber of Commerce and served a term as President. He was given the Business Man of the Year Award in 1990.

Bill and Alpha (Sonny) Fowler co-founded Douglas County Federal Savings and Loan in 1960. Bill was President, CEO and Chairman over a period of 33 years. This S & L remained solvent and became one of the few S & L survivors during the inflationary period of the Carter administration.

In 1968 Bill built a new Chevrolet dealership on Highway 6 in Lithia Springs. Highway 6 soon became Thornton Road. This dealership is one of the longest surviving operations in the Atlanta and West Georgia area.

In 1973 Bill and Mack Robinson co-founded Douglas County Bank. Bill became CEO and Chairman. The bank opened in a small building on Fairburn Road. Bill later bought out Mack Robinson and in 1993 Douglas County Bank moved to a much larger building, still on Fairburn Road. Douglas County Bank is the only locally owned and operated community bank in the county. In 2002 Douglas County Bank won the award for the best community bank in Georgia.

The Thornton's were blessed with two children, Mary Marcia married to Danny Belyeu, and John William married to Mary Ellen Karst. They have four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Flowers will be graciously accepted or donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Douglasville, 5900 Prestley Mill Road, Douglasville, GA 30135.

The family will receive friends the First Baptist Church on Friday, February 20, 2015 from 6:00 until 8:00 pm. He will lie in state at the First Baptist Church on Saturday, February 21, 2015 from 11:00 until 2:00 with the funeral service following at 2:00. Dr. John Pennington will officiate. Interment will follow at Rosehaven Cemetery.

Those who wish to express condolences or share a special memory may do so online at www.whitleygarner.com

Arrangements by: Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven Funeral Home, Douglasville, GA 30134, 770-942-4246.