Mildred Ann Parrish Thornton

Mildred Parrish Thornton, 82, of Huntsville passed away on Wednesday evening at Huntsville Hospital. She was born in McRae, Georgia fifth out of six to John Henry and Carmelite B. Parrish, Jr. She graduated from McRae High School in 1952. She met the love of her life, Wendell Thornton, Sr., in McRae, Georgia. They were married in the McRae Baptist Parsonage on December 17, 1952. Mildred was preceded in death by her parents. She was also preceded in death by four of her brothers and sisters: John Henry Parrish III (Jack), Vance Parrish Scarboro and her husband Harold, Charles Owen Parrish and his wife Edith, Ruth Parrish Mobley and her husband Gilbreath(Gil). She was also preceded in death by her grandson Aaron Michael Duffey. She is survived by her beloved husband Wendell Thornton, Sr. of 65 years, brother Edward Parrish and his wife Gail and their children Mike Parrish and Jeff Parrish, sister-in-law Dalia Parrish (wife of John Henry Parrish III) and their children Johnny Parrish, Bobby Parrish and his wife Sandy, David Parrish and his wife Jeanie and their children Jordan Parrish and Jaxon Parrish, Pam Parrish Hardison (daughter of Charles Owen Parrish and Edith) and Mark and their children Austin Hardison and his wife McCall, Claire Hardison Brown and her husband Tyler and their daughter Ann Parish Brown, Will Hardison and his wife GraceAnn , Charlotte Parrish Scroll (daughter of Charles Owen Parrish and Edith) and husband Tim and their children Katie and Grant, Tommy Scarboro (son of Vance Parrish Scarboro and Harold), Dewayne Mobley (son of Ruth Parrish Mobley and Gilbreath) and his daughters Lauren Mobley Ebelhar and her husband Jared and their children, Carolynn Mobley Wilbanks and her husband Lee and their daughter, Deborah Ann Mobley (daughter of Ruth Parrish Mobley and Gilbreath. Mildred is also survived by her children Patricia Ann Thornton, Debra Thornton Duffey and her husband Walter Ernest Duffey, Jr. and their children William Matthew Duffey and his wife Brenna, and his daughter Hope LeeAnn Duffey, Sarah Elizabeth Duffey, and Wendell Thornton, Jr. and his children Wendy Thornton Long and her husband Curt and their daughter Keegan, John Michael Thornton and his son Austin Baker. Mildred was a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, seamstress, furniture restorer, antique collector, gardener of roses and vegetables, planter and maintainer of grass and trees at her home and businesses TSC and Empire, loved gospel music, canning, fishing and cooking. She was very dedicated to her family. She was a supportive band mother to her daughter’s schools and always supportive of her son’s automobile ventures. She was also a caregiver to patients in nursing homes after her children grew up. Finally, Mildred had a great love for her dogs, especially Babe. Visitation will be from 12 noon to 1:00 pm Wednesday at Valhalla Funeral Home, 698 Winchester Road NE, Huntsville, Alabama 35811, (256)852-8500, followed by a celebration of her life with Dr. Bobby Burt presiding. Burial will be at Valhalla Cemetery in the Last Supper section.