2014 Thornton Family Reunion

From as far away as Oregon and Florida, family members gathered at White's Chapel, just south of Plano, Kentucky, to interact with Jesse Benton and Susie Cooper Thornton descendants and their families. This Labor Day weekend tradition has persisted for four decades.  The last member of the first generation of Thornton children, Winnie Carene Thornton Copas, passed away on January 2, 2014.

Danijela Lewis and daughter Evelina are entertained by grandfather, Bill Lewis, husband of Diane Thornton Lewis.

Danny White, son of Evelyn Daniel White and grandson of Eva Thornton, with sons.

Bill, Damon, Carter, and Jansen Lewis (husband, son, and grandchildren of Diane Thornton Lewis)

White's Chapel, which has frequently hosted Thornton Family Reunions over the last 40 years.

Bill Lewis and Kitty Baker Sparks, widow of Jesse Willard Thornton.

Tom Reagan, son of Pauline Thornton, chatting with Kitty Baker Sparks.

Thornton Cousin Profile: Billionaire Brad Kelley

Brad Maurice Kelley, second great-grandson of Mary Jane Thornton, daughter of James and Lucy Laney Thornton, was born in 1956 to Joe Frank Kelley and Patsy Ruth Gregory.  While his early years were spent in Bowling Green, KY, Brad attended high school in Franklin, KY, near where his Thornton ancestors had originally arrived.

An enterprising youth, investing in real estate and agriculture during his teenage years, he built up a tobacco business that was later sold to Houchins Industries for $1 billion.  He has diversified his business interests into media, horses, and real estate.  It is estimated that he is the fourth largest private landowner in the United States, with valuable ranches throughout the Midwest and Texas.  In addition, he is the current operator of Calumet Farms, Lexington, KY: his horse, Oxbow, won the 2013 Preakness Stakes.  The Lonely Planet travel guides are produced by his media house, NC2.

Brad Kelley is a noted conservationist and supporter of organizations that protect endangered wildlife such as rhinos and tapirs.

He is married to Susan Bush, and they have three children.  His current net worth is estimated to be approximately $2 billion.

Thornton Cousins: Thomas Monroe Kitchens (1869 - 1945)



The Kitchens family arrived in Southern Kentucky with Jesse Kitchens and his wife, Elizabeth Lucinda Cassity.  Many of their children and grandchildren would marry Thorntons, most notably Sarah "Lizzie" Kitchens who married John H. Thornton, my 2nd Great Grandfather. 

The family, pictured above, is that of Thomas Monroe and Narcissa Mittie Huffines Kitchens and seven of their children: Clarence, Columbus "Lum," Velma, Mary, Erma Lee, George, and Ernest.  Erma Lee would later marry James Herschel Thornton, son of John and Lizzie.





Thomas Monroe and Mittie Huffines Kitchens.



Obituary: Carene Thornton Copas

Last child of Jesse Benton and Susie Cooper Thornton passes away:

Carene Copas, 84, of Bowling Green, died Jan. 2, 2014, at her residence. 

She was a member of Old Union Missionary Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Cloyd Copas, as well as four brothers and five sisters. She is survived by two sons, Allan Copas and Rodney (Debbie) Copas; two sisters-in-law, Helen Thornton and Elizabeth Moore of Burbank, Calif.; five grandchildren, Bryant (Kim), Chad, Lorri (Duke), Cori (Chris) and Jessica (Patrick); six great-grandchildren, Lauren (Anthony),  Michael, Wyatt, Dalton, Logan and Abigail; a great-great-granddaughter, Addyson; four stepgrandchildren; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and a host of friends.

Funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the J.C. Kirby & Son Broadway Chapel, with burial in the Old Union Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon until 8 p.m. Saturday, and from noon until service time Sunday at the funeral home.

Class-book Photo: The Hensons

Jesse Willard Henson's children: In the third row, left to right, Larry, Ophelia, Jerry Galen, and Terry.  The first picture in the fourth row is Katherine

Jesse Willard Henson (1917 - 1981)

Jesse Willard Henson was born July 16, 1917 in Simpson County, KY, to Lee B. and Ophelia Ruth Wright Henson.  Ophelia was the daughter of Charlie Wilson and Lassie Wright, daughter of Cassandra Thornton of the Allen and Polly Ray Thornton branch.  In 1925, Ophelia Henson passed away, when Jesse was eight years old and his younger sister, Eris, was three.  Raised in Simpson County, he married Mary Sue Spears, daughter of Denver and Nellie Middleton Spears, and raised his family on the rolling farmland of southern Kentucky.  Jesse and his wife had several children: Jerry Galen, Larry Willard, Ophelia, Terry Marlin, and Katherine.  Jesse passed away in February 1981, in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

In the above picture, Jesse is with his father, Lee Henson.

The Henson family:  Top row, left to right, William Ranburger, Mary Sue Spears Henson, Jesse Willard Henson, Diane McCoy Henson, Terry Marlin Henson, Larry Willard Henson; Second row, left to right, Katherine Henson Toney, Ophelia Ranburger, with Teresa Dyer in lap, Lee Henson, Jane Lightfoot Henson, with Bonnie Henson Monroe in lap, Lorie Fisher Henson, and Sherry Henson Edmunds.

Ophelia, daughter of Jesse Willard, poses with Xavier Henson-Stevens, son of Stefanie Henson-Stevens and Timothy Stevens.

40th Wedding Anniversary: Larry, Ophelia, Willard, Sue, Terry, and Katherine

Fall Family Member Obituaries

Bradley Thomas Threlkel:

Mr. Bradley Thomas Threlkel, 21, of Woodburn, died Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, at his residence.

He was a native of Simpson County. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Merile B. O’Bryan; and an aunt, Sue Threlkel.  

Survivors include his father, Henry Thomas Threlkel and his companion, Lisa Rue, of Franklin; his mother, Fern O’Bryan Mercer and her husband, Joe, of Woodburn; a brother, Zackary Threlkel of Franklin; paternal grandparents, Henry B. and Lois Threlkel of Morgantown; maternal grandmother, Dorothy O’Bryan of Franklin; a nephew, Zayden Bryan Threlkel of Franklin; aunts and uncles, Janice Morgan of Indianapolis, Ron and Barbara Threlkel of Plano, Betty and Jimmy Vance of Franklin, James and Anita Minton of Morgantown, Merile and Carol O’Bryan of Franklin, Roy and Barbara O’Bryan of Franklin and Leo O’Bryan of Nashville; and five cousins. 

Cloyd Copas:

Cloyd Copas, 84, of Bowling Green, died Wednesday afternoon at his residence.

Survivors include his wife Carene of 66 years; and two sons, Allan and Rodney (Debbie) and their families.

Glenn Daniel:

Glenn Daniel, 74, of Bowling Green, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday at the VA Hospital in Nashville.

The Warren County native was born March 30, 1938, and was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Eva Thornton Daniel; two sons, Brad and Brent Daniel; his brother, Gary Daniel; and two brothers-in-law, Louie White and Eugene Rippy.

Glenn was a member of White’s Chapel United Methodist Church, a 1956 graduate of Alvaton High School, a U. S. Army veteran and served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He was member of American Legion Post 23 and a former post commander. He was a van driver for disabled veterans, loved hunting and fishing and never met a stranger. He loved his wife, children, sisters and especially his grandchildren.

Glenn is survived by his wife, JoAnna Daniel; a son, Chris Daniel (Vicki) of Bowling Green; a daughter, Kim Bouchey (David) of Bowling Green; three stepsons, Doug Cline (Cathy) of Glasgow, and Chris Cline (Mary) and Adam Cline, both of Bowling Green; a stepdaughter, Nicki Cline of Bowling Green; two sisters, Evelyn White and Lucille Rippy, both of Bowling Green; a sister-in-law, Jeannie Reneau (Jimmy) of Bowling Green; three grandchildren, Jana Sublett, Jonathan Daniel and Bradley Bouchey; four stepgrandchildren, Randy and Andy Cline, Ashley Grisham and Charles Simmons; a special mother-in-law, Ocie Sexton of Edmonton; and several nieces and nephews.

(Bowling Green Park City Daily News, 2012)