Eldridge Palmore Thornton, Sr., was born on July 19, 1951, to the late Carrie and Joseph Thornton Sr.  He departed this life on February 15, 2019, at 6:25pm in Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk, VA.

He was a lifetime resident of Wakefield, VA.  He accepted Christ at an early age as his Lord and Savior.  He met his wife Alice Clark in 1972 and married her in 1973, they were blessed with 46 years of marriage and union produced 3 sons, Andre, Cedric and Eldridge Jr.  He was a mechanic and worked for Gwaltney for 31 years.

Eldridge was preceded in death by his Mother Carrie Stringfield, Father, Joseph Thornton, sister, Mary Brown Thornton, three brothers, John Henry, Joseph Jr, and Morris Thornton; four sisters-in-law, Frances Clark, Mary Stringfield, Florence Thornton, and Ada Thornton; two brothers-in-law , Richard Berry, and Burnell Ellis.

He leaves to cherish his memories, his wife, Alice Thornton; three sons, Andre Thornton (Angela) of Newport News, VA, Eldridge Jr of Wakefield and Cedric Thornton (Izzy) of Williamsburg, VA; one sister, Paris A. Ellis of Florida; one brother, Clarence Stringfield of Surry; three sisters-in-law, Mary Berry, Roberta Clark of Hopewell, VA, and Estelle Thornton of Newport News, VA; four brothers-in-law, William Brown of Wakefield, Linwood Berry of Hopewell, Mack Berry of Georgia and Melvin Berry of Arizona; eight grandchildren, Tiyonda, Joshua, Ce`azia, Jayon, Tykea, Zyija, Cedric Jr. and Camaron; one great-granddaughter, Cheyanne, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral Service for Mr. Thornton will be 11:00am Saturday, March 2, 2019 , at Oak Grove Baptist Church, 38070 Rocky Hock Rd, Wakefield, VA, Rev. Leslie Holloway, Pastor.  Interment will follow at Thornton Family Cemetery, Wakefield, VA.