BOONEVILLE, Miss. (BNc) — Long-time gospel preacher and writer, Jean Armor Thornton, 90, died Monday, Oct. 11, 2010, at Scott-Del Personal Care Home in Booneville.

Thornton was a member of the Booneville church. He served on the President’s Advisory Board at Freed-Hardeman University for over 40 years and he was a past chairman of that board.

Thornton is survived by two daughters, Jeanita (Jim) Estes of Booneville and Joyce (Ralph) Gilmore of Jackson, Tenn.; one sister, Julia (Bobby) Milstead of Florence, Ala.; one brother, John L. (Peggy) Thornton of Hendersonville, Tenn.; nine grandchildren, Jennifer (Jon) Nieuwboer, Jill Lewis, Rachel (Evan) Aldridge, Rose Gilmore, Tim (Tammie) Estes, Steve (Nicole) Estes, Jay (April) Estes, Jon Estes and LeAnn (Jeremy) Jones; 10 great-grandchildren; his second wife’s children, Ann Langford of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Barry Pardue of Booneville. He is preceded in death by his first wife of 58 years, Delphia H. Thornton; his second wife, Jewell Thornton; an infant daughter and an infant son; and one sister and four brothers.

Memorial gifts should be sent to the J.A. Thornton Scholarship Fund at Freed-Hardeman University, 158 E. Main St., Henderson, TN 38340.

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