Hewshal Raleigh Thornton

Mr. Hewshal Raleigh Thornton, 91 of Jesup, passed away early Saturday morning, May 1, 2021, at Altamaha Healthcare in Jesup.

Born in Bristol, GA on August 22, 1929, he had lived in Pierce and Wayne counties most of his life.  A very patriotic man who loved his country, Mr. Thornton served in the US Air Force during the Korean conflict.  He would go on to work for Interstate Paper Corp. where he retired following forty plus years of service.  Mr. Thornton could come across as tough on the outside but deep down he had a heart of gold.  He dearly loved his family and his Pierce County Bears.  Mr. Thornton was a member of Anderson Drive Baptist Church but periodically attended First Baptist Church in Blackshear in his later years.

He was the son of the late Lonnie & Alice Foster Thornton.  He was also preceded in death by his wife, Edna Lois Fowler Thornton.

Survivors include four sons, Steven (Delores) Thornton of Huntersville, NC, Neal Thornton of Jesup, David (Cindy) Thornton of Gum Branch, and Lee (Lala) Thornton of Odum; a sister, Noreen Byrd of Patterson; a sister-in-law, Margaret Robson Lee of Blackshear; 10 grandchildren, Shannon Stafford (Ted) Tomter, Mandy Collett, Robert (Elizabeth) Thornton, Chris (Dee) Mobley, Wendy (Brad) Walker, Ashley (Mark) Henry, Garrett Thornton, Jennifer Spell, Cade (Holly) Mattox, and Jessie (Arthur) Sapp; 20 great grandchildren; 2 great, great grandchildren with one more on the way; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Funeral services for Mr. Thornton will be held Tuesday afternoon, May 4, 2021, at 2:00 o’clock from the Pearson-Dial Chapel.

The family will receive friends at the chapel one hour prior to the service.

Interment will be in the Waters Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org or to Hospice of South Georgia at www.hospiceoga.org.

Due to COVID-19, social distancing as well as the use of face masks is strongly encouraged.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com.

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.    

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