Shannon Elyse Thornhill

She was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and later lived in Pensacola, Florida, Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. She attended the Immaculate Conception High School for Girls where she made many life-long friends and later completed three years of college. When in her early twenties, she became the youngest trainee ever accepted into the Opryland Hotel’s chef training program. She was a professionally skilled baker who was best known for her orange dreamsicle cake and cloud cookies.

She spent her adult life in Hermitage with her children who she loved immensely. She was capable of finding pleasure in the simplicity of a good cup of coffee with some good music playing in the background. She had the best taste in music and was a true music lover and officianado.

People who knew her were aware of her golden heart. She was always willing to help those around her, especially the downtrodden, and she did so selflessly and confidentially. Shannon’s family is constantly touched by those with stories about her kind and giving heart.

Spirituality was important in Shannon’s life. She believed in eternal life. Her spirit will live on in the hearts of her mother and stepfather, and her beloved two children, Hannah and Gabriel ”Gabe”, who will never allow her memory to fade away.

A year ago, Shannon was involved in an auto accident that left her in a coma with a brain injury. After almost four months of strenuous rehabilitation, she was able to walk, write and speak again. She met these challenges with strength and determination and her healthcare providers said her recovery was miraculous. The last months of her life were full of hope and excitement about getting her degree and an upcoming move to Chattanooga to be near family.

She was preceded in death by her dear aunt and friend Teresa Ann (Tat) Thornhill, her father, Dr. Timothy W. Thornhill, her maternal grandparents, Richard M. and A. Elizabeth “Betty” Breon, her paternal grandparents, Harry G. and M. Jeanette Thornhill, cousins E. Thomas “Tommy” and James “Jimmy” H. Fuller, and several great uncles and aunts.

She is survived by her beloved daughter, Hannah Aliya Holley, of New York, and beloved son, K. Gabriel “Gabe” Holley, of Hermitage, TN, mother and step-father, Debra B. and Steven J. Van Voorst, of South Pittsburg, TN, aunts Marcia B. Cavin and Catherine S. Fuller, uncles Richard M. Breon, Andrew R. Breon, and Cullen E. “Gene” Cavin, special cousins Catherine and John Crawley, Summer Crawley, Beth and Jason Tipton, all of Chattanooga, Trey and Robin Cavin of Hermitage, TN, and many other cousins who loved her. She was the sister of Ian W. Thornhill, of Knoxville, TN, Chelsea Thornhill, of Chattanooga, and Jordan T. Strehlau of Hendersonville, TN.

Per Shannon’s wishes, there will be a private family celebration of her life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that charitable contributions be made to The Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN at