Mary Catherine Thornton

Mary Catherine Thornton (McCoy), 66, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, January 21, 2010. Mary Catherine attended Phillis Wheatley High School where she participated in Drum and Bugle and choir. She graduated in 1961 and went on to complete her LVN certification. She provided many years of service to others as an LVN at St. Elizabeth Hospital, switchboard operator for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, and PBX and Data Entry Operator at the Department of Human Resources (DHS). She retired from DHS in 1991 to help her daughter manage her medical practice. She spent her days caring for her grandchildren: Ashley, Ashton, Joshua, Johnice, Breyona, Emon, Amaya, and Jamarcus to whom she was known as “Bannibelle”. While caring for her grandchildren in her home, it fondly became the “Bannibelle Nursery”. Mary Catherine enjoyed talking on the telephone, working her Hocus-Focus, and shopping from her favorite catalogs. She loved watching First Methodist Church every Sunday from Dr. Charles Allen to the current Pastor Reverend Wendy. She also enjoyed Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church and Dr. Ralph West of The Church Without Walls. As the family matriarch, she provided many years of comfort, counsel, and support to her children, grandchildren, family, friends and anyone else who needed a listening ear. She spent much of her time helping her family, friends, and neighbors and had a special place in her heart for her elder friends who were sick and shut in. Bannibelle had a loving heart, giving spirit and she was very well loved.She is preceded in death by her father, Hansel D. McCoy; mother, Cecelia J. McCoy; and sister, Gretchen Joseph.She leaves to cherish her memory: sister, Gwendolyn Sims of Atlanta; two brothers; children, Dr. Carmen Thornton (Henry), Damon Thornton (Sheryle), Dana (Paul) Jackson, Catherine (Gregory) Lacy, and Mark (Janice) Ealy; grandchildren, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, family and lifelong friends. Services….Visitation…