Emma Lou Thornton

Obituary For Emma Lou Thornton

On September 15, 1959, a beautiful baby girl, Emma Lou Thornton, was born to Jimmie Lee and Louise (Thomas) Thornton in Vero Beach, Florida.

As a young child, she was a member of Northside Church of God and Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Gifford, Florida, where she was baptized and remained a member until her passing.

Emma attended Gifford Elementary School, Gifford Middle 6, Gifford Middle 7, Vero Beach Junior High School, and she was a 1977 graduate of Vero Beach High School. During her time in school, she was a cheerleader and a member of the volleyball, track, and softball teams.

Although Emma spent most of her life as a resident of Indian River County, she spent her young adult years as a resident of St. Lucie County.

Emma began her professional career as an Emergency Dispatcher with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Department. She was later employed with the Indian River County School District and Indian River Memorial Hospital in the Food Service Department. Emma then became employed with the Department of Children and Family Services as an Interviewing Clerk, which she continued as for over 24 years.

Emma loved and adored her children, Willie Holloman, Chauncey Stovall, and ShaShonna Jones, and was a devoted and proud grandmother. Her love for children also extended to her nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was an amazing cook, enjoyed listening to music, dancing, laughing, and spending time with her friends and family.

Emma was preceded in death by her parents, Jimmie Lee and Louise (Thomas) Thornton; brothers, Leroy Thornton and Charlie Lee Thornton; and sisters, Carolyn Ann Thornton-Clark, Ella Mae Thornton, and Belinda Banner.

She leaves to cherish her memories: her sons, Willie J. Holloman III and Chauncey J. (Latoya) Stovall, Sr.; daughter, ShaShonna V. Jones; grandchildren, Kenyaa Holloman, Kennedy Jones, Paris Moore, Taylor Holloman, Cassidy Stinson, Candaice Stinson, Chauncey Stovall, Jr., Kylain Holloman, and special grandson, Terrence Taylor; brother, Johnnie (Margaret) Thornton; sisters, Addie B. Bennett, Mattie Hunter, and Sabrina (Edward) Lewis; godsons, Jamie Brown and Montravious Stuckey; goddaughters, Te’lea Jefferson and Taquilla Williams; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends whom she loved and adored.

Public visitation for Emma Lou Thornton will take place on Friday, September 25, 2020 at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Vero Beach, FL between the hours of 5:00pm and 7:00pm. A celebration of her life will convene on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at 11:00am at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Vero Beach, FL. Burial will immediately follow in Gifford Cemetery in Gifford, FL.

Although many venues have opened and the restrictions of COVID 19 have been relaxed, we here at Stone Brothers Funeral Homes are still enforcing the guidelines set forth by the CDC and FDOH to protect our families and our staff. We ask that you respect this, as it could very well save your life. We also ask that you acknowledge and execute the 6 ft. social distancing guidelines as well.