June 20, 1950 March 10, 2006 Calvin Ernest Thornton, Jr.
for I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of (^od which is in Christ JesUS Our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39
Pattbearers The Family of Calvin E. Thornton, Jr. Honorary Pattbearers The Men of Belle-Terrace Presbyterian Church Boggs Academy Class of 1968 Choirs The Belle-Terrace Presbyterian Church Choir Members of the Augusta Chorale, Ellis Johnson, Director
Calvin Ernest Thornton, Jr. June 20, 1950 March 10, 2006 Calvin Ernest Thornton, Jr. of Augusta, Georgia died on March 10, 2006 after a long and courageous battle with declining health. He was born on June 20,1950 in Columbia, South Carolina. He was the firstborn child of Ann Henderson and the late Calvin E. Thornton, Sr. Calvin spent his early years in public education in South Carolina. He graduated from Boggs Academy in Keysville, Georgia in 1968. Calvin was active in Scouting and was a well rounded athlete, excelling in football and basketball. Calvin continued his education at Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia and Paine College, Augusta, Georgia where he studied Philosophy and Religion. He was a music enthusiast as a trumpet player and singer with many choruses. After an early career in Hotel Management, Calvin began working in the Broadcast Industry in the mid 1970 s. Starting as a Disc Jockey, Calvin worked in News, Sports, Production, Sales and Management. Calvin successfully managed many broadcast stations in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina. His specialties included: significantly increasing the net income of a radio property within a year, motivating and sustaining top sales and management staff, and developing and responding in tangible ways to socio/economic needs of local communities.
An Excerpt from: Thoughts from the Purpose Driven Life with a touch of Calvin Thornton somewhere along the way Life without Love is really worthless. Often we act as if relationships are something to squeeze into our schedules. We talk about "finding" time for our children or "making" time for our family and friends. Have you ever been at the bedside of someone in their final moments, when they stand on the edge of eternity? Have you ever heard them say... "bring my diplomas? I want to look at them one more time. Show me my awards, my jewelry, or just let me sit behind the steering wheel of that pretty car just once more." I once vowed to do whatever it took to get more awards and plaques than my dad, Calvin, Sr. I accomplished that goal. You know I don t know where most of those things are today... I think some of them are in a big old trash bag in our storage closet. Do you get the point? Life is not about accolades, material possessions... all that stuff doesn t matter. When life on earth is ending, people don t surround themselves with objects. What they want is to be in the presence of the living Lord and people whom they have loved over the years. In our final moments we realize that relationships are what life is all about. Intimate relationships with God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit... relationships with those we love. Please don t wait until you are on your deathbed to figure out that nothing matters more. Trust me on this one, I really do know something about this reality. Time is our most precious gift. We don t have a set amount of it. Your time is your life.
J3. Service of Witness to the Resurrection for Calvin "Ernest ^Thornton, Jr. Reverend Otis A. Smith, Presiding Reverend Melvin G. Smith, Pastor Prelude....Mr. James Mclntyre Procession....Mr. James Mclntyre Call to Worship....Reverend Otis A. Smith Hymn of Praise*....Aft Mail The Tower Of Jesus 9fome....No. 142 Prayer of Invocation....Reverend Gilbert McKenzie Affirmation of Faith The ftpostks* Creed Musical Tribute LternaCLife by Olive Dugan....Mr. Oliver Sueing, Baritone Mr. Harding Epps, Jr., Accompanist Jesus WalkedThis Lonesome VaCCey....Dr. Charlotte Francis, Mrs. Adrienne Oakman, Mr. George Bailey and Mr. James Mclntyre Ms. Evelyn Ellis, Accompanist.hva.ys Stood By My Side....Mrs. Kayte Thomas
Mrs. Edna Morgan, Accompanist Scriptural Selections Psalm 27....Elder Charles Grant Ecclesiastes 3:1-12....Elder Janice Lewis Romans 8:14-23, 31-39 Remarks The Broadcast Media....Ms. Tonya Barnhill A Friend....Ms. Sherry Moir Boggs Academy, Class of 1968....\....Mr. Sylvester Ginn A Friend....Dr. Emmanuel Ngoh The Church Family....Elder Bobby Parham The Family....Ms. Terri Lynn McConnell The Family....Reverend Nancy Thornton McKenzie Obituary (read in silence) Selection*... Cjreat Is Thy faithfulness....no. 276 Words of Comfort....Reverend Melvin Lowry Reces" v.... ftkssedassurance, Jesus Is Mine....No. 341 Interment....Mount Olive Memorial Gardens (*Please remain seated) Witness to the Resurrection
Here in Augusta, Calvin was instrumental in developing the Jazz Festival, the May Fest and the Neighborhood Community Project for 30906. He was a member of the Augusta Chorale. In South Carolina, North Carolina and Alabama, Calvin s media leadership brought about a heightened community awareness and pride, honoring pioneers in the industry, and commitment to eradicating Sickle Cell Anemia. Calvin was a member and leader at Belle-Terrace Presbyterian Church. Despite declining health, Calvin inspired and touched the lives of countless people through his Trust Bank, a collection of faith filled and spiritual writings. Calvin is survived by his mother, Ann Henderson Thornton, Augusta, Georgia; a sister, Nancy Thornton McKenzie and a brother-in-law, Gilbert McKenzie, Poughkeepsie, New York; a sister-in-law, Kimberly Tompkins Thornton, Augusta, Georgia; nieces, Christian McKenzie, Brooklyn, New York, Sterling and Clarke Thornton, Augusta, Georgia; nephews, Kenyatta McKenzie Poughkeepsie, New York and Cameron Thornton, Augusta, Georgia; a cousin/sister, Terri McConnell, Augusta, Georgia; aunts, Ida Mae McConnell, High Point, North Carolina, Blondell Thornton, Simsbury, Connecticut and Delores Thornton, Charleston, South Carolina; a godmother, Jane Reasoner, Columbia, South Carolina; and a host of cousins and very dear friends. His father, Calvin Thornton, Sr. and brother George Henderson Thornton preceded him in death. Obituary
The essence of love is not what we think or do to provide for others, but how much time we give of ourselves to God and others. Whenever you give your time, you are making a sacrifice, and sacrifice is the essence of love. You can give without loving, but you can t love without giving. Love means giving up... yielding our preferences, comfort, security, money, energy, or time for the benefit of someone we love. I ve got people in my life that have and are now spending time with me... be it in person, on the phone, through e-mails, in the mail, in prayer... and I tell you the truth, my spirits have never been higher. My faith has never been stronger. The best time to love is now. Why? We don t know how long we will have the opportunity. Circumstances change. People die. Children grow up. We have no guarantee of tomorrow. The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now. We ve got people lined up... who love us... not for what we can materially give them, but they love us for who we are. The first one in line is the Creator of the Universe. He loves each of us and wants to spend more time with us... that s why He created us, to spend quality time with him and others... think about that. God loves each of you and so do I. There really isn t anything you can do about it! Be Well. Calvin Words from CaCvin
THE SERVICE OF WITNESS TO THE RESURRECTION for CALVIN ERNEST THORNTON, JR. THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2006 2:00 P.M. BELLE-TERRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Reverend Melvin Lowry, Pastor CeCefaration of ife
ftdqwivtedgements The family of the late Calvin. Tfiornton, Jr. wouldlike to express our deep gratitude and sincere thanfe to the many friends for your prayers, cards and words of encouragement during our loved one s illness and bereavement. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to the Endowment fund of the rbette-fierrace Tresbyterian Church, 2454 Qolden Camp <Road, Augusta, Qeorgia 30906, in memory of Calvin. Thornton, _7r. r W. H. Mays Mortuary "Professional Service A Family Tradition Since 1922" 1221 James Brown Boulevard Augusta, Georgia (706) 722-6401 RcknowCecCgements and Service Participants
McGowen Printing 601 Eleventh Street Augusta, Georgia 30901 (706) 722-7596