Carrie "Margaret" Thornton
Carrie "Margaret" Thornton, 88, a resident of Bridgewater Retirement Community in Bridgewater, Virginia, passed away peacefully on July 28, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.
Born on October 21, 1937, in Keokee, Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Troy Clifford Bailey and Ruby Harber Bailey. She is survived by her devoted husband of 64 years, Earl A. Thornton, Ph.D., whom she married in 1962; her daughter, Laura Ann Thornton, Esq. (husband, J. Allan Valade); her son, Charles Steven Thornton (husband, Maikel Cisneros-Thornton); her siblings, Linda Carol Bailey and David Neil Bailey (wife, Nancy), her sister-in-law Elizabeth Gardner (husband, Danny Massey), her brothers-in-law, John S. Thornton (wife, Sandra Thornton), and Dr. Richard L.M. Coleman, her nieces and nephew, and great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister, Janeth E. Coleman, and her nephew, Seth Bailey.
Margaret graduated from Radford College in 1959 with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught sixth grade in Salem, Virginia; Norwood, Ohio; and Portsmouth, Virginia. After the birth of her daughter in 1965, she devoted herself full-time to caring for her family.
A faithful member of the United Methodist Church for more than 60 years, Margaret actively served the congregations at Centenary UMC in Portsmouth, Aldersgate UMC in Charlottesville, and Dayton UMC in the Shenandoah Valley. She taught Sunday school, managed church libraries, participated in women's groups, and generously volunteered in numerous other church ministries. Her quiet faith and generous heart touched the lives of many.
Margaret also had a lifelong passion for gardening. She was an accomplished Master Gardener who cultivated beautiful flower and vegetable gardens throughout her life. She served as president and other official roles in the Tyre Neck Garden Club in Chesapeake, the Monticello Garden Club of Charlottesville, and the Spotswood Garden Club in Harrisonburg.
Margaret will be remembered for her gentle spirit, kind heart, and unwavering care for others. Her friends knew her as a gracious, easygoing, and compassionate woman-a "true blue" friend in every sense of the phrase. Her family was blessed to know and love those same qualities every day.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Johnson Funeral and Cremation Service in Bridgewater, VA. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the Lantz Chapel at Bridgewater Retirement Community.
The family wishes to express its sincere gratitude to the nurses and staff of "Tranquility House" who provided loving care to Margaret in her final year. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Alzheimer's Association.
