Maxine Gowan Thornton
January 7, 1932 -
May 17, 2019

Visitation

May 20, 2019
11:00 AM- 1:00 PM

Service 

May 20, 2019
1:00 PM

Interment

Obituary

Funeral service for Maxine Gowan Thornton, age 87, of Fayetteville, TN will be conducted at 1 PM on Monday, May 20, 2019 at Fayetteville First Baptist Church with Dr. Jon Hathcock and Bro. Ray VanNeste officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Memorial Gardens.

Maxine was born on January 7, 1932 in Lincoln County, Tennessee to the late Hiriam Maxie and Mary Margaret Mansfield Gowan. She worked for Serbin, was a license cosmetologist, and Owned Maxine’s Hair Salon. Mrs. Thornton served as the Lincoln County Register of Deeds, was a member of the Fayetteville Kiwanis Club, and the Fayetteville First Baptist Church. Maxine passed away on May 17, 2019.

Survivors include her daughters, Melinda Carolyn Thornton (Charlie) Williams, and Tammie Thornton (Ray) VanNeste; grandchildren, Stephanie (Matt) Miller, Adrianne Monks, Richard (Christel) Honey, Thomas Monks, Sara (Colin) Carey, Ashlee Johnson, Brandon Williams, Justin Williams, Lindsey Williams, Meagan (Abel) Garcia, Jesse (Candy) Allen, Noah (Mary) Allen, Hailey Williams, Nathan VanNeste, Matthew VanNeste, Jonathan VanNeste, Benjamin VanNeste, Abigail Van Neste, and Timothy VanNeste; 29 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Christine Gowan (Hilton) Sullivan; and a brother, Billy Joe Gowan. In addition to her parents, Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Richard “Dick” Thornton in 1992; and daughters, Victoria Lynn Monks Lewis, and Angela Kaye Thornton Allen Neal.

Visitation with the family will be from 11 AM until the time of service at 1 PM at the Fayetteville First Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Cary B Sullivan Lincoln County Tribute Chair, PO Box 470, Fayetteville, TN 37334 or to the Grace Fund at Fayetteville First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 623, Fayetteville, TN 37334.

Higgins Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family of Maxing Gowan Thornton.

Video Services

22 Comments

  1. Norma Wright

    Thoughts and Prayers are with you. She will be in the hearts of many.

    Reply
  2. Brenda Burns

    Sister Melinda,Charlie .Haley ,Tom ,Sarah ,Richard ,Tammie and The Rest of “Granny Mac’s “Family .I am so sorry about your Loss .A Southern Bell has Gained her Wings. May God wrap his arms around each of you during this most difficult time …I Loved that Lady so much and she will be Greatly Missed. She was such a lively person that always had a caring smile. Love and Prayers to you All ! Brenda ( ER Burns )& Joe Burns and Family!!

    Reply
  3. Kay Honey

    Dear Melinda & Christine, We are so sorry for your loss. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Love, Anthony & Kay Honey

    Reply
  4. Judy Stafford

    I’m so sorry to hear about Maxine my thoughts and prayers are with you all, she was a beautiful sweet lady

    Reply
  5. Teresa Sajpel

    Granny Mac I will always cherish my special memories of you. I thank God for opening a door into your life. I love you and your sweet wonderful family. Praying for Melinda, Charlie and the whole family in the days ahead
    Rest in Peace Gmac I love You.

    Reply
  6. Teresa Sajpel

    MS Maxine was such a sweet loving kind lady I will always cherish my sweet memories of her she will be missed. I thank God for the time he gave me to know you and always felt love at Melinda and Charlie’s home. Praying for Melinda , Charlie and the whole Family in the days ahead. Rest in Peace Gmac she is walking the streets of gold with Jesus

    Reply
  7. Linda Edmiston

    Melinda and family. I am sorry for the loss of you mother. Praying for you family.

    Reply
  8. Mike and Jeanie Hyde

    Maxine was a kind sweet Lady! We are so sorry for your loss and our prayers and thoughts are with your family at this sad time.

    Reply
  9. Teresa Honea Sajpel

    Gmac I have truly enjoyed my Time with you. You are most certainly a wonderful Sweetheart good Christian women. I can say I will always have special memories of our time and laughter. I am praying for Charlie, Melinda, Hailey, Tammy, and Tom and his family Richard his wife and kids . and all the grandchildren I may have not met. Rest in Peace Gmac. I love you and your wonderful Family.

    Reply
  10. Sharon Thompson

    So sorry for your loss, Melinda and family. Praying for you.

    Reply
  11. Carol Marsh

    Melinda, I am so sorry to hear about your Mom. She was a great lady! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. With love, Bill and Carol Marsh

    Reply
  12. Donna Miles

    So sorry for the loss of Ms Maxine, she was so loved and was a very special lady..Melinda, you and your family are in my Prayers ??

    Reply
  13. Tina kent

    So sorry to here this
    You are in our prayers. May the lord guide you and help you all during this sad time .

    Reply
  14. Lenace Hyde Vaughn

    Mrs. Maxine was one of the sweetest and finest ladies I have ever known. I spent much time growing up in her home and she was always so sweet to me. I loved her a lot. My prayers are with the entire family at this time of your loss. She will be missed .
    Lenace Hyde Vaughn

    Reply
  15. Becky Miller

    May you be filled with love, appreciation and contentment during this time. The family is in our prayers. Loved your Mother and the entire family. Becky, Clarissa and Jeff Miller

    Reply
  16. Brenda & Gary Badenhop

    Prayers and comfort to Maxine’s family.

    Reply
  17. Lindsey Williams

    Granny mac I will miss you so much I loved are time we had together rest peace . I love you so much

    Reply
  18. Freda Kinser Blair

    So sorry for your loss! Prayers for peace and comfort!

    Reply
  19. Janice Gregory

    Sorry for the loss of Mrs. Maxine. She was a wonderful christian lady and will be missed. The family will be in our thoughts and prayers. God bless, Brent and Janice Moore Gregory

    Reply
  20. Dianne Dickey

    Prayers for comfort and peace for your family. Melinda,special prayers for you and all her sweet grandchildren.Much love being sent you.

    Reply
  21. Gerald and Wanda Scott

    God Bless the Family with Comfort and Peace in the Days to Come!! She was a Beautiful Lady!!

    Reply
  22. Mary Partin

    So sorry for your loss. You all are in our prayers & thoughts. God Bless You All. Mary, Teresa Partin, Willie C McGehee, Billy McGehee

    Reply

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Memories

22 Comments

  1. Norma Wright

    Thoughts and Prayers are with you. She will be in the hearts of many.

    Reply
  2. Brenda Burns

    Sister Melinda,Charlie .Haley ,Tom ,Sarah ,Richard ,Tammie and The Rest of “Granny Mac’s “Family .I am so sorry about your Loss .A Southern Bell has Gained her Wings. May God wrap his arms around each of you during this most difficult time …I Loved that Lady so much and she will be Greatly Missed. She was such a lively person that always had a caring smile. Love and Prayers to you All ! Brenda ( ER Burns )& Joe Burns and Family!!

    Reply
  3. Kay Honey

    Dear Melinda & Christine, We are so sorry for your loss. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Love, Anthony & Kay Honey

    Reply
  4. Judy Stafford

    I’m so sorry to hear about Maxine my thoughts and prayers are with you all, she was a beautiful sweet lady

    Reply
  5. Teresa Sajpel

    Granny Mac I will always cherish my special memories of you. I thank God for opening a door into your life. I love you and your sweet wonderful family. Praying for Melinda, Charlie and the whole family in the days ahead
    Rest in Peace Gmac I love You.

    Reply
  6. Teresa Sajpel

    MS Maxine was such a sweet loving kind lady I will always cherish my sweet memories of her she will be missed. I thank God for the time he gave me to know you and always felt love at Melinda and Charlie’s home. Praying for Melinda , Charlie and the whole Family in the days ahead. Rest in Peace Gmac she is walking the streets of gold with Jesus

    Reply
  7. Linda Edmiston

    Melinda and family. I am sorry for the loss of you mother. Praying for you family.

    Reply
  8. Mike and Jeanie Hyde

    Maxine was a kind sweet Lady! We are so sorry for your loss and our prayers and thoughts are with your family at this sad time.

    Reply
  9. Teresa Honea Sajpel

    Gmac I have truly enjoyed my Time with you. You are most certainly a wonderful Sweetheart good Christian women. I can say I will always have special memories of our time and laughter. I am praying for Charlie, Melinda, Hailey, Tammy, and Tom and his family Richard his wife and kids . and all the grandchildren I may have not met. Rest in Peace Gmac. I love you and your wonderful Family.

    Reply
  10. Sharon Thompson

    So sorry for your loss, Melinda and family. Praying for you.

    Reply
  11. Carol Marsh

    Melinda, I am so sorry to hear about your Mom. She was a great lady! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. With love, Bill and Carol Marsh

    Reply
  12. Donna Miles

    So sorry for the loss of Ms Maxine, she was so loved and was a very special lady..Melinda, you and your family are in my Prayers ??

    Reply
  13. Tina kent

    So sorry to here this
    You are in our prayers. May the lord guide you and help you all during this sad time .

    Reply
  14. Lenace Hyde Vaughn

    Mrs. Maxine was one of the sweetest and finest ladies I have ever known. I spent much time growing up in her home and she was always so sweet to me. I loved her a lot. My prayers are with the entire family at this time of your loss. She will be missed .
    Lenace Hyde Vaughn

    Reply
  15. Becky Miller

    May you be filled with love, appreciation and contentment during this time. The family is in our prayers. Loved your Mother and the entire family. Becky, Clarissa and Jeff Miller

    Reply
  16. Brenda & Gary Badenhop

    Prayers and comfort to Maxine’s family.

    Reply
  17. Lindsey Williams

    Granny mac I will miss you so much I loved are time we had together rest peace . I love you so much

    Reply
  18. Freda Kinser Blair

    So sorry for your loss! Prayers for peace and comfort!

    Reply
  19. Janice Gregory

    Sorry for the loss of Mrs. Maxine. She was a wonderful christian lady and will be missed. The family will be in our thoughts and prayers. God bless, Brent and Janice Moore Gregory

    Reply
  20. Dianne Dickey

    Prayers for comfort and peace for your family. Melinda,special prayers for you and all her sweet grandchildren.Much love being sent you.

    Reply
  21. Gerald and Wanda Scott

    God Bless the Family with Comfort and Peace in the Days to Come!! She was a Beautiful Lady!!

    Reply
  22. Mary Partin

    So sorry for your loss. You all are in our prayers & thoughts. God Bless You All. Mary, Teresa Partin, Willie C McGehee, Billy McGehee

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *