Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries



Mexia Daily News - Mar 22, 2007 edition

Charlie Leroy Thornton

FAIRFIELD - Charlie Leroy Thornton, 86, of Fairfield, passed away Thursday, 
March 15, 2007, at East Texas Medical Center, Fairfield.

Funeral services were held Monday, March 19, 2007, at noon in the Jones Chapel
United Methodist Church of Fairfield. The Rev. Darrell Houston, pastor, gave 
the eulogy, and the Rev. Clara Gilbert of Tyler, officiated. Interment was in
the Hopewell Cemetery-Fairfield. Moore’s Angelic Funeral Home of Teague was 
in charge of arrangements.

Charlie Leroy Thornton was born the seventh child of Charlie Thornton and Mae
Jane Strange Thornton on March 18, 1920. He was born in the Brown Creek 
community of Freestone County.

Charlie grew up in the Brown Creek community and attended school there. He 
accepted Christ at an early age and attended the Spring Bank Church, New Zion 
Baptist Church and the Jones Chapel United Methodist Church of Fairfield.

Charlie loved his family and “never met a stranger.” He always greeted 
everyone with a smile and “How you doing?” He enjoyed ranching and worked for
the F.E. Hill Company of Fairfield. He continued to work for the Hills until
February 9, 2007, when he fell and fractured his hip at the age of 86.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents; by a son, Cedrick Mims; by 
three brothers, Rueben, Ulysses and Tom, and by three sisters, Emma, Minnie 
and Maggie.

Those who cherish his memory most are his son, Ray Mims of Dallas; daughters -
Doris Henry of Dallas, Sherry Brackens and husband Tony of Fairfield, and 
Margaret Scott and husband Henry Wayne of Dallas; his sister, Katie Mae 
Dickens of Quanah; grandsons - Tony Brackens and wife Candice, Charkeith and 
his wife Felicia, and Brian and his wife Trackea; his granddaughters - Lawanda,
Lorna and husband Johnny, Rhonda and husband Rickey, Shetonia and husband 
Chris, Andrea and husband Charles, Audrey Renee’ and husband Gavin, Constance
and Kawanise; 23 great-grandchildren; his special friends, Idias Mims and 
Mildredge Andy; a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.