Funeral services for Pauline Garrett Newton Thornton, 91, will be Friday, April 11 at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Greenville. She died Tuesday, April 8, 2014 after a brief illness. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Greenville.
Pauline was born April 13, 1922 in Kilmichael, MS the daughter of Gertrude Ware Garrett and Davis Garland Garrett.Pauline graduated from Greenville High School and married James Carroll Newton, Jr. in 1941. They lived and farmed at Stringtown, MS for thirty years. Mr. Newton preceded her in death in 1991.
Pauline worked for Clarke, Bradley, Baker and Company for 44 years.
Later in life she married Phillip Henry Thornton III from Sumne, MS, and they lived in Greenville until the present.
While living in Bolivar County, Pauline served as President of the Benoit Parent Teacher Association, President of the Home Demonstration Club, and Chairman of Bolivar County Farm Bureau Women. She was a member of the General Charles Clark Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and served as a local and state officer and leader of the Children’s Chapter. In 1947 – 48 she served as a rural society reporter for the Delta Democrat Times. She was listed in the first and second additions of Who’s Who in American Women.
In Greenville, she served on the Board of Directors of the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce. She was Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors for several years and was still an active ambassador at the time of her death, having been named outstanding ambassador for the 2012-13 year. She served on drives for the United Way, the Salvation Army and the March of Dimes. She was active in politics, serving as a volunteer phone caller for several campaigns. She was a member of First Baptist Church and the Seekers Sunday School Class. She served as President of the Forever Young at First Baptist. She had many hobbies including fishing, cards, joke-telling and dancing. Her most recent honor was being crowned Valentine Queen at Magnolia Gardens after only being there three months.
Pauline is survived by her husband, Phillip Henry Thornton III, Greenville, one son, James Carroll Newton III and his wife Shari of Palm Coast, FL; one daughter, Nancy Newton Shurlds and her husband Larry, of Johns Island, SC; three grandchildren: Mark Newton of Los Angeles, CA, Scott Newton and his wife Karen of Moab, Utah, and Bliss Shurlds of Charleston, SC, and three great grandchildren, Cadel Newton, Aidan Newton, and Siena Newton. She also is survived by a step-son Phillip Henry Thornton IV and his wife Linda, Holiday Island, AR, and three step-grandchildren as well as three sisters, Hazel Garrett Harbin, Rainbow City, AL, Betty Jo Garrett Wilson, Ridgeland, MS, and Margie Garrett Mayers, Memphis, TN.
She was predeceased by her first husband, her parents, a brother, Dr. Davis Garrett, four sisters, Jewell Garrett Hess, Louise Garrett Lee Magers, Mary Davis Garrett Nesbitt and Ruth Garrett Williams.
The family will receive friends Thursday, April 10, 2014 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Boone Funeral Home.