Elna Willis Thornhill, 93, of Tifton died Saturday, March 15, 2014 at Tift Regional Medical Center. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 18, 2014, at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Dr. W. Wayne Roe will officiate with burial to follow in the Oakridge Cemetery. Brian Sumner, Wesley Thornhill, Preston Thornhill, Trevor Thornhill, Rod Harrison and Mike Beaumont will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 18, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of the service at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Born on April 1, 1920 in Tift County, Mrs. Thornhill lived most of her life in Tift County and was educated in the Omega Public Schools. Her most important life role was that of being a caring homemaker and loving mother to her four children, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Leading by example, she demonstrated the Christian values of love, kindness and forgiveness. Mrs. Thornhill was preceded in death by her parents, John Preston Willis and Mahala Gibbs Willis; one daughter, Kay T. Sumner; six sisters, Iris Joseph, Myrtice Simmons, Esta Lee Wilder, Naomi Sumner, Val Blanchard and Elma Willis (her twin sister); and three brothers, Hansel Willis, John Henry Willis, and R.P. Willis.
Mrs. Thornhill is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Anna Ruth Thornhill and her husband, Rod Harrison of Duluth; two sons, Ted Thornhill and Roger Thornhill both of Tifton; six grandchildren, Brian and Susan H. Sumner, Celeste S. and Mike Beaumont, Wesley Thornhill, Preston Thornhill, Trevor Thornhill, and Madison Thornhill; four great-grandchildren, Savannah Sumner, Kice Sumner, Kay Bailey Robinson, and Briggs Beaumont; and many nieces and nephews.