On Friday, February 13, 2026, Helen Duke Thornton, of Columbia, Mississippi went home to be with her Lord at the age of 96. She was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Henry and Clemis Toney and was raised in Kokomo, Mississippi. Helen was a graduate of Mississippi Southern College School of Business and studied music at William Carey College. Her love of music was profound and she devoted her life to teaching thousands of students to play piano. She was also an avid quilter who belonged to the Quilt Guild in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Helen was a woman of deep faith who shared her musical gifts playing piano and organ at Broad Street Methodist Church in Hattiesburg. When moving to Brandon, Mississippi in 1974, she quickly became active in Crossgates Methodist Church where she continued to share her talents playing piano and organ. Moving to Columbia 25 years ago, Helen continued serving her Lord and her community through her membership with First Baptist Church Columbia. She leaves a legacy of faith to her family and Helen will be remembered for living her faith, her love of music, and certainly for her vast collection of Rooster pictures and figurines.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, H.P. Toney; and her husbands, Roy B. Duke and Bobby Thornton. Helen is survived by two sons, Steve Duke and Greg Duke and his wife, Debby; a brother, John Toney and his wife, Bobbye; four grandchildren, Nikki Strong and her husband, Michael, Jeremy Duke, Katie Burch and her husband, Rod, and Stephen Duke; and six great-grandchildren, Everly Burch, Madison Curtis and her husband, Arlon, Caroline Strong, Avery Strong, Fischer Strong, and Luca Duke.
There will be a funeral service, officiated by Doctor Bryant Barnes, at Colonial Funeral Home on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 3:00pm. Friends may visit with the family from 2:00pm until service time. There will also be a graveside service, officiated by Reverend Robbie Murden, in Lakewood Memorial Park on Clinton Blvd. in Jackson on Monday, February 16, 2026, at 11:00am.
