First Lady Edradean L. Thornton

THORNTON, First Lady Edradean L. - Age 76, passed away Thursday, April 21, 2016 at her residence. Family hour 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 30, 2016 at New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church, G-1035 E. Carpenter Rd., with home going celebration commencing at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Patrick W. Sanders, Sr, Host Pastor, Pastor Link Howard III, Officiating, Pastor Kevin Thompson, Presiding. Interment Sunset Hills Association, 4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:30 a.m. Saturday. First Lady Thornton will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed Friday, April 29, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family present 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to receive friends. First Lady Edradean L. Thornton was born November 5, 1939 at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, MI; the daughter of Eleanor Giles and Willard Payne. Edra was affectionately known as “Deannie,” she accepted Christ as her personal savior at the age of 10 while attending Metropolitan Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Edgar Timmons; while attending Metropolitan, Edra played the piano for Sunday School, served as an usher and sang in the teen choir. Edra attended Flint Community Schools, Mott Community College and the University of Michigan Flint Campus. She was united in holy matrimony with her dearest friend John Thornton on July 20, 1963, this union was blessed with four children; Edward, Albert, Lorrie and Lonette. In 1965, Edra followed her husband and became a charter member of New Jerusalem Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. L.W. Owens. During her time at New Jerusalem, Edra served in numerous ministries: financial secretary, assistant to Sis. Brenda Floyd with the angel choir, organized the youth usher board with Delores Holbrook, organized the hospitality ministry and co-chaired the tape ministry with Delores Perry. Edra assisted with the pastor’s anniversary, the nurses and health ministry and was active with UWON (United Women of New Jerusalem). She loved the Lord and serving His people; she served for 20 years with VCW (Victorious Christian Women) and attended Bible Study Fellowship International. Edra was an active member of Evergreen Estates Neighborhood Association. She delighted in sending inspirational cards to church members and bereaved families. In 1993, Edra and her husband became members of Tabernacle of Faith Assembly in Richmond, Indiana; where he became the pastor and she served as the First Lady; in 2011 Edra became the First Lady of Historic Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of her husband, Pastor John Thornton. Edra was employed by St. Joseph Hospital as a LPN from 1958-1974, then as a registered nurse until retiring in January 1997, after 39 years of dedicated service. Edra later became a tutor / mentor for the graduate nurses program with Mott Community College from 2006-2007. Her favorite pastimes included travelling, photography (she was the photographer of the photo of Rev. & Mrs. Owens, which hangs in the Ella Owens Center at New Jerusalem), shopping, scrapbooking and taking her grandchildren to special events such as hot air balloon festivals. Edra leaves in Gods care, husband, Pastor John E. Thornton; daughters, Lorrie Leonard of Chicago, IL and Lonette Henderson of Reseda, CA; sons, Edward (Phyllis) Thornton of Indianapolis, IN, Albert Thornton of Battle Creek, MI; daughter-in-love, Lesia Thornton of Flint, MI; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; god-children, Michael (Dione) Willis of Illinois and Rev. Dr. Teleah (Pastor Donald) Phillips of Albion, MI; sisters-in-law, Esther Perry of Chicago, IL, Reecy Outland of Flora, MS, Georgia Thompson and Pearl (Johnny) Berry, both of Detroit, MI, Dorothy Thompson of Swartz Creek, MI and Lillie Thornton of Flint MI; brother-in-law, Shedrick (Denise) Thornton of Jackson, MS; aunts, Bessie Hudson, Ogeal Yvette Young and Helen Giles all of Flint; cousins, Delcene (Jobe) Hughley of Detroit; special nieces, Mary Mason and Angie Thornton-George, special nephew, Pastor Kevin Thompson Sr., all of Flint; a host of other relatives and friends including childhood kindergarten friends “The Lady Vikings,” Dorothy Jean Hawkins and Dovie Roberts, both of Flint MI; Delores Holbrook of Louisville, Texas, Ella Jackson of Burton, MI and Sandra Craddock of Detroit; travelling buddies, Lorna Triplett of Lansing MI; Pastor and Mrs. Link (Martha) Howard of Macomb Township, MI; special friends, Debora Baker of Flint, Doris Campbell of Lake Orion, MI; Juanda Matthews of San Diego, CA; Mary Scott, Cliff (Linda) Turner and family, Pastor Orlanda (Linda) Goodman, Deacon Frank (Mabel) Bell, Minister Tommie (Margaret) Chaney; all of Flint. Edra was preceded in death by parents; grandparents; aunts, Garnetta Robinson, Ramona Clark, Claudia Simpson, Cynthia Tumer and Ruth Edwards; uncles, Kelly and Lonnie Giles; sisters-in-law, Alice Mason, Pauline Simmons and Doris Smith; brothers-in-law, Charles and Clifton Thornton; god-daughter Ragina Battles and cousin, Regina Edwards and several other relatives. Special thanks to the many friends and family including Tonya Price, Nurse Michele and Reverence Hospice; Pastor Patrick Sanders Sr., and the New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church family and Historic Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church family.

First Lady Edradean L. Thornton

November 5, 1939 - April 21, 2016