Barbara Mercier Thornton

Barbara Mercier Thornton, 73, of McComb, passed away March 11,2010, at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center inMcComb.

Visitation will be on Sunday from 1 p.m. until services at 3 p.m.at the Navilla Baptist Church in McComb. The Revs. Larry Romack andRon West will officiate. Burial will be in Navilla Cemetery.

Mrs. Thornton was born February 16, 1937, in McComb. She was thedaughter of the late Willie Howard and Ruby Wilson Mercier.

She was a member of the Navilla Baptist Church in McComb. She was aretired telephone operator, having retired from AT&T after 31years of service. She was a resident of McComb Extended Care fortwo and a half years, where she made many friends. She was awonderful friend, wife, mother and grandmother.

Mrs. Thornton loved to spend time with her family and especiallyher grandchildren. She was blessed with a loving husband who caredfor her until his passing. They will both be sadly missed by theirfamily and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 52 years,Jimmie Rogers Thornton; and two brothers, Alfred Ray Mercier Sr.and Howard Lynn Mercier.

Survivors include her son and his wife, Mike and Dawn Thornton, ofMcComb; one daughter, Lisa Kepper and husband, Andy, of Winnfield,La.; three sisters, Carol M. Newman, of Madison, Allie M. Gill, ofJackson, and Mary M. Dickerson, of Loyd Star; and sevengrandchildren, Alan, Amber, Taylor and Kyndal Thornton and Drew,Payton and Brady Kepper.

Pallbearers will be Kevin Newman, Ricky Johnston, Blake Boyd, IveyRimes, Chris Laciura and Brian McCullough.

Honorary pallbearers will be Glen Sharp, Donald Brown, Donny Boyd,Jerry Kepper, Darwin Peoples, Donald Smith, Chris Dickerson andGeorge Shamis.