Luna Vonceile Hill Thornton

October 5, 2013

Luna Vonceile Hill Thornton, 90, of Columbia, Tenn., passed away Oct. 5, 2013.

Daughter of the late Howard Henry Hill and Luna Belle Johnson Hill, she was born Jan. 15, 1923, in Zama, Miss. She was preceded in death by her husband of over 40 years, Buford Eugene Thornton.  She was also preceded in death by her brother, James G. Hill, and brother-in-law, Huland Yates.

Mrs. Thornton was salutatorian of Zama High School in 1941.While waiting for her future husband to return from WWII, she attended and graduated from Alverson Business College in Birmingham majoring in bookkeeping and secretarial science.

Mrs. Thornton lived much of her adult life in Russellville, where she and her husband owned and operated The Drug Shop from 1962 until they retired in 1982. They were active members of First Baptist Church of Russellville, where her husband taught Sunday School. After her husband’s death in 1987, she moved to Columbia, Tenn., and lived out the remainder of her life with her daughter and family. She was a member of First Family Church in Columbia.

A devoted mother and grandmother, she is survived by her children, Jerry H. Thornton of McComb, Miss., and Dr. Tina Smith and husband, Robert, of Columbia, Tenn.; grandchildren, John Edward Orman, IV, of Tuscumbia, Virginia Orman and husband, Tyler Hughes, of Waynesboro, Tenn., Victoria Orman of Pulaski, Tenn.; great-granddaughter, Madalynn Elizabeth Hughes; step-grandchildren, Joby Jay (Brandi) Smith and wife, Brandi, Sabrina Jacal and husband, Alvaro, Yvonne Miniard and husband, Mario, and Brandy Smith; sister, Mary Hill Yates of Birmingham; brother, Larry Joe Hill and wife, Joann, of Red Bay; many nieces, nephews, and step-great-grand-children.

Funeral services were Monday, Oct. 7, 2013, at Pinkard Funeral Home, Russellville. Burial was in Red Bay Cemetery.