The Obituary Eddie Will Thornton, Jr was born May 10, 1958, to the late Eddie Will Thornton, Sr. and Gloria Dean Hood. Eddie was the eldest son of five children. He was educated in the Hamilton County School System, graduating from Garfield Senior High School in 1976. Staff Sergeant Eddie Will Thornton joined the United States Army in 1977. He served as a Military Police Officer for 18 years and was honorably discharged in 1995 due to medical issues. He attended the Savannah Police Academy in 1978. He also served as a Drug Abuse Resistance Educator and was the McGruff Crime Dog mascot. While serving he was a United States Army Recruiter (USAREC), Anti-Terrorist Instructor, and Combat-Related Special Compensation Ambassador. While on active duty at Fort Bragg, North Carolina he served during the Panama Conflict in 1987. He received several military awards during his time of service and special acknowledgement from several congressional leaders. Eddie received Christ at an early age and joined Israel Baptist Church of Hamilton, where he was a very active member. He loved the Lord and had a strong desire to follow Him. As a youth he was an active member of the Teens Unlimited in Christ under the direction of Larry & Alberta Holston. During his military career he served as the Pastor of Greater Works Community Church along with his former wife and was authorized by the 7th Army to work in conjunction with the Military Chaplaincy 418th BSB Command while stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. In addition, he served as a member of the Chaplaincy Funding Committee. Eddie enjoyed working with people and always took the opportunity to serve others in the name of Christ. He was the Director of New Covenant Ministries International, a local and foreign mission agency, in which he conducted several missions to Haiti in support of Missionary Eleanor Workman and conducted many endeavors in support of Christian Ethiopians in Europe, Ethiopia and America. Eddie was preceded in death by his parents, Eddie and Gloria Thornton, one sister Theresa, one brother Jeffrey, maternal grandparents, Willie M and Josephine Hood, paternal grandparents, Henry Thornton, Terry and Stella Wardlaw; four uncles- Jimmy Thornton, Willie E. Hood, Sr., Lewis J. Hood, Sr., and John H. Hood; two aunts-Doris N. Hood and Gracie L. Wofford. Left to cherish his memories are: his best friend and former wife of 25 years Cassandra Thornton (Midway, GA); one son, David Karl of Midway, GA; two daughters, Tiffany Sherrie of Midway, GA and Quan'Janae Elise of Cincinnati, OH; two grandsons Tramaine Marcel Thornton of Hinesville, GA and Jaxon Eitan-Oliver Thornton-Miller of Midway, GA; two sisters – Daphne Thornton of Cincinnati, OH, and Doris Thornton of Memphis, TN; nephews – Solomon, Solomon Jr. and Jayden Thornton and nieces Marchelle and Zoey Thornton, of Cincinnati, OH; a great uncle, Willie Lewis of Birmingham, AL; four aunts-Dianne Webster of Detroit, MI; Hattie Bailey of Hamilton, OH; Josephine Crawford of Midland, GA; Loretta Daniel of Columbus, GA; three uncles-Theodore Hood of Columbus, GA; Michael and David Thornton of Detroit, MI; several cousins, relatives and friends. Special mention: his childhood neighbors and long time friends John "Sweet Water" Carter, Bob Moore, and his classmate Frank Cunningham. Military Honors will be held Thursday, October 22, 10 a.m. at Dayton National Cemetery Visitation is from 6:00 pm until 7:00 pm, on Wednesday, October 21, 2015, at the Great Commission Bible Church, 10200 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati (45231). The funeral service will immediately follow the visitation beginning at 7:00 pm. Military Honors will be held Thursday, October 22, 10 a.m. at Dayton National Cemetery. You may express online condolences at www.HerbWalker.com. Walker Funeral Home of Cincinnati is serving the Thornton family.

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