Doris Johnson Thornton

THORNTON, Doris Johnson, 94, treasured mother, grandmother, wife, and friend passed away peacefully on April 30, 2016. Our mother possessed an incomparable beauty of spirit, grace, and loving kindness. She always had a ready smile for everyone and had a very upbeat and happy nature. Born and raised in Danville, where she met and married her beloved husband of 60+ years, Retired Major Rozier Lee Thornton, who preceded her in death in Feb. 2000. Doris was the last surviving of the five children of Willardine Robertson Johnson and Charlie Lemuel Johnson (sister, Elaine Scott and brothers, Carl, Eldridge, and Nathan Johnson). She is survived by her daughters Margaret Bozard (Bill) and Patricia Thornton (Nick Slahor) and six grandchildren, Richard Bozard II, Jaime and Vinnie Dugan, Rebecca Gill, Elizabeth Marshall, and Katie Slahor. Her son, Rozier Lee Thornton, Jr. and grandson, Billy Bozard, preceded her in death. Doris was a joyful person to the end. She enjoyed music, playing piano, dancing, travel, gardening, pretty clothes, singing, and socializing. She loved people – her friends, her neighbors, her caregivers, and especially her family. Any party was a wonderful occasion, and the more the merrier. Doris touched the lives of many a child as a Scout leader, Sunday School teacher, and homeroom mother. She was an expert seamstress. When we were young she stayed up into the wee hours putting the finishing touches on our cotillion dresses, costumes for school plays, and special outfits. She was also the recognized “great cook” of her friends and family. Our mouth waters at the thought of her buttermilk biscuits, fabulous holiday meals, and those amazing cookies, cakes, and pies. As an army major’s wife, Doris handled multiple moves, social occasions, and family responsibilities with charm and a lovely sense of fun. She handled the bounty of Dad’s immense garden like a country gal - canning, putting up preserves, pickling, and freezing. Doris was proud of her working career, albeit short, as a legal secretary and later as an assistant to the Administrator at Lucy Corr Nursing Home. She was a graduate of Lynchburg Business College. Doris was a longstanding member of St. John’s Episcopal Church and especially enjoyed their Young at Heart Luncheons. Dad often said, “If there’s a club, your mother will join it!” She was a member of many to the end: Bellwood Women’s Club, Woman’s Club of Chester, Village Woman’s Club, Chester Chapter 121 Order of the Eastern Star, Antique Study Group, MOAA, & the Daughters of the American Revolution. Special thanks are extended to the staff of Morningside of Bellgrade where Doris lived since July 2011 and to Tonia Archer and staff who provided private duty assistance. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 5th, 2016 at St. John’s Episcopal Church 12201 Richmond St. Chester, VA 23831. The family will receive visitors at St. John’s prior to the service from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. In memory of Mom’s love of flowers and her gift for arranging them, flowers are welcome. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .