Rachel A. Thornton

Rachel Alford Thornton was born in Philadelphia, MS on September 30, 1944 to the late Rube and Ethel Mae Alford.

Rachel worked as a hairdresser for 48 years, retiring from Mississippi Dept. of Corrections, Cosmetology, and she enjoyed singing and writing gospel music and was known as “Songs of Praises.”

In addition to her parents, Rachel was preceded in death by her brother, Harold Alford of Brandon, MS; husband, Alan C. Thornton of Florence, MS; and son, Butch Copeland of Clinton, MS.

She is survived by her daughter, Mona Copeland Stovall of Pearl, MS; grandchildren, Ashley Soelman of Richland, MS, Ricky (Lauren) Depoyster of Florence, MS, Stephen Copeland of Pearl, MS, and Chelsea Copeland of Pearl, MS; great grandchildren, Hunter Glascoe, Brayden Soelman, Cain Depoyster, Bentley Depoyster, Alaine Copeland, and Brandon Copeland; brothers Ben (Margie) Alford of Jackson, MS, Frank (Brenda) Alford of Houston, TX, Perry (Linda) Alford of Mountain View, AR; sister-in-law, Peggy Alford of Brandon, MS; and several nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

The family will receive friends 9:00-11:00am, Tuesday, January 22, 2019, at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Life Celebration Services will follow at 11:00am in the funeral home chapel.