Theresa Diane Thornton was born August 14, 1955, to the late Eddie Will Thornton, Sr. and Gloria Dean Hood. Theresa was the eldest of five children. She was educated in the Hamilton City School system, graduating from Garfield Senior High School in 1973. Theresa attended Miami University Oxford and Southern Ohio College from which she obtained her degree. Theresa embarked on a career in the United States Army, where she served as a logistics specialist. While serving in the military, Theresa took advantage of the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Europe. Theresa received Christ at an early age and joined The Israel Baptist Church of Hamilton where she was a very active member. Theresa loved the Lord and had a strong desire to follow Him. She believed and trusted in the Word of God, memorizing and hiding the Word in her heart. She had such a generous giving spirit. She took Matthew 25:31-46 and lived by it: " ...Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you? He will reply, I will tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." She believed that : Time is not measured By the years that we live But by the deeds that you do And the joy that you give- And each day as it comes Brings a chance to each one To love to the fullest, Leaving nothing undone That would brighten the life Or lighten the load Of some weary traveler Lost on Life's Road- So what does it matter How long we may live If as long as we live We unselfishly give. Theresa had unyielding love for children. While growing up, she exhibited this love by surrounding herself with her siblings, cousins, and other neighborhood children. Theresa would plan weekly outings to the Lane Public Library and require all to obtain their Library cards, check out a book, and report on that book. Her trips with the children included afternoon matinees at the Court Theatre in Downtown Hamilton, afternoon "ice cream runs", trips to the circus, trips to the fair (County, State, and at one time, even the World's Fair), and numerous other jaunts that only a true lover of children would endure. God saw this love Theresa had and blessed her with a beautiful baby girl, Marchelle. After returning from the military, she worked tirelessly as the church's Sunday School secretary. She spent time fellowshipping with Courts of Praise in Hamilton and The Vineyard until her health would no longer allowed her to do so. Theresa worked at Mercy Hospital Hamilton and Fairfield in Central Distribution. Being ever adventurous, Theresa left Mercy Fairfield and began her career at The Internal Revenue Service working in Timekeeping. While there, she had the opportunity to travel training others on various programs. Theresa was an avid reader. She spent several hours reading and becoming a part of the novels she read. Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and Harlequin Romance Novels could be found at any given time among Theresa's current literary repertoire, but the Word of God was always at hand. Theresa also enjoyed traveling. She loved to vacation by taking cruise ships across the waters with both family and friends. Planning these trips was such an exciting task for Theresa, and one she executed with great joy and detailed care. Theresa was preceded in death by her parents, Eddie and Gloria Thornton, 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 her memories are: one daughter, Marchelle; one grandson – Jayden, both of Cincinnati, OH; two sisters – Daphne Thornton of Cincinnati, OH, and Doris Thornton of Memphis, TN; one brother – Eddie Thornton, Jr., of Cincinnati, OH; a special nephew who lovingly cared for her – Solomon 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; and Loretta Daniel of Columbus, GA; three uncles – Theodore Hood of Columbus, GA; Michael Thornton and David Thornton both of Detroit, MI; three nephews - David Thornton and Jaxon Thornton of Midway, GA; and Solomon Thornton JR. of Cincinnati, OH; three nieces - Tiffany Thornton of Midway, GA; and Quan'Janae Thornton and Zoey Thornton of Cincinnati, OH; several cousins, other relatives, and many friends. Visitation is from 10:00 am until 11:00 am, on Saturday, August 22, 2015, at the Great Commission Bible Church, 10200 Hamilton Ave., Cincinnati (45231). The funeral service will immediately follow the visitation beginning at 11:00 am. You may express online condolences at www.HerbWalker.com. Walker Funeral Home of Cincinnati is serving the Thornton family.

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