Doris Porterfield Thornton

Doris Porterfield Thornton, 92, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away on October 25, 2022.

A native of Oconee County, she was born to Henry N. “Babe” Porterfield and Leona [Maxey], on April 4, 1930, in Watkinsville, GA.

She had a sweet gentle disposition and loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren tremendously, whom lovingly called her “Nannie”.

She graduated from Watkinsville High School and was a member of the Watkinsville First United Methodist Church.  After many years of working at the General Time/Westclox clock factory in Athens, GA, she joined the Oconee County School System as a Cafeteria Manager until her retirement in May of 1990.

She is survived by son Michael Anthony and Nona [Knecht] Thornton, Watkinsville, GA; her daughter Marcia [Thornton] and Charles R. Vaughn, Watkinsville, GA; six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren; grandson, Charles “Charlie” Robert Vaughn, Jr. (great-grandchildren, Colton Robert and Easton Chapman), Greensboro, GA; grandson, Michael Jeremy and Tanner [Hoyt] Thornton (great-grandchildren, William Knox and Harrison Hoyt), Watkinsville, GA; granddaughter, Kimberly “Kim” Vaughn, Macon, GA; granddaughter Katheryn “Katie” [Thornton] and Todd Roath (great-grandchildren, Todd Hudson, Harper Elizabeth, Finley Kate and Naomi Tanner), Watkinsville, GA; grandson, Christopher Scott and Amanda [Adams] Thornton (great-grandchildren, Asa Christopher, Amelia Inez and Nona Penelope), Mountain Brook, AL; granddaughter, Nona Julianne Thornton (special grand-dog, Pippin), Watkinsville, GA.  She is also survived by her brother, Bobby Hershel Porterfield, Watkinsville, GA, sister-in-law, Juanita Hammond Porterfield, Athens, GA, and several nieces and nephews. A special thanks to her caregivers at St. Mary’s Center for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care and special friend Kim Bush.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lambert Gene “L.G.” Thornton, her brother Henry Ford Porterfield and sister-in-law, Beverly, brother Willie R. “Billy” Porterfield, sister Dorothy “Dot” Porterfield Weirauch and brother-in-law, Charles and sister-in-law, Marion Osborne Porterfield.

Pallbearers are her six grandchildren and honorary pallbearers are her eleven great-grandchildren.

Graveside service will be held at Evergreen Memorial Park, 3655 Atlanta Hwy, Athens, GA 30606, on Friday, October 28, 2022 at 3:00pm.  Prior to the graveside service, visitation with the family will be at Lord & Stephens West from 1:30pm to 2:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either of the following:

St. Mary’s Highland Hills Memory Care.  Please make your check payable to “St. Mary’s Foundation” and indicate on the memo line any special wishes.  Please mail your check to St. Mary’s Foundation, 1230 Baxter Street, Athens, GA 30606-3791 https://www.highlandhillsvillage.com/care-options/memory-care/

Watkinsville First United Methodist Church, 1331 New High Shoals Road, Watkinsville, GA 30677. https://secure.myvanco.com/YJNB/campaign/C-11PKP

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, Watkinsville, GA is in charge of arrangements