The “Memorial Mass Choir” was put together originally for the sole purpose of this recording. Many family members and friends dedicated their time for this cause. They traveled from many parts of the country all because somehow through God Rev. Thornton had touched their lives. Many of the members of the choir and the band are nationally recognized by either their own projects or for the groups they belong to. Some sing in their own church choir and some just wanted to do their part. Before the recording a lot us never knew each other but after the recording none of us will never forget. All the voices and music blended together in perfect harmony as if we had been together all the time. God was in the plan. Since the time of the recording our songs have been played literally world wide and there have been numerous requests for concerts, so I’m pleased to announce that we are in the process of reorganizing so listen out for us because The Rev. Dr. S. Tyrone Thornton Memorial Mass Choir might be in a town near you. (Check out the links to many members websites.) Meet The Mass. Shelia Alick Cherylynn Blasingame Jermaine Boodie Edwinda Brown Lynn Brown Arnold Bullock DeeDee Caldwell Tamie Caldwell Teresa Chadwick Janetta Cloud Keisha Dalton Renae Davis Demetra Deriso Monica Diallo Beverly Dobson Carla Farmer Nikki Finger Sonya Fletcher Donalda Green Johnny Haywood Latoya Hill Tony Ingram Shirley Ireland Sharan Isaiah Walter Johnson--Director LaShonda Lackey Sherrill Lash Tonya Legrand Lydia Marshall Carla Matthews Edith McCoy Stephanie McCoy Sharon McIntyre Angel Miller Robin Miller LaDonna Mole Fredericka Morrison Maurice Murphy Mary Norris Shelby Owen--Director Shawn Palmer Sonja Pulliam Shamia Robinson Puccinni Roseboro Lisa Scott Teresa Scott Marilynne Singletary Edna Smith Toni Smith Gloria Speas Tammy Walton Bobby Witherspoon
Lynn Neal Brown/ Jesus Is Worthy Arnold Bullock/ Use Me Nigel Andrews/ The Only Way Ladonna H. Mole/ I Want To Be Ready, We Will Meet Again Brittney Thornton/ Tashemia Thornton/ Kenneth Thornton Jr./ Teresa Chadwick/ Hold On (Intro by Tashan Thornton)
Jeff Adams/ piano/ music director/producer Cedric Thompson/ organ Calvin Napper/ drums Reggie Graves/ guitar John "Monty" Robertson/ live bass Willard "Chunky" Morrision/ studio bass
Remembering The Life. Reverend Dr. Stephen Tyrone Thornton was the second child born to Deacon and Mrs. James Mervin Thornton on March 20, 1966. He was a faithful and dedicated member of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church where he joined at the age of six years old, under the pastorate of the late Reverend Otis Chestnut. Dr. Thornton married the former Portia Patterson on August 6, 1988 and to this union God made them proud parents of two children, a daughter, TaShemia Ra'shel and a son, TaShan Ra'quis. He received his primary and secondary education in the public schools of Pittsylvania County, Virginia graduating from Tunstall Senior High School in Dry Fork, Virginia. He received an Associate Degree in Applied Science from Danville Community College in Danville, Virginia. He continued to satisfy his thirst for more academic and spiritual knowledge at: Averett College, Danville, Virginia, Cascade Bible Institute, Cascade, Virginia, Christians United Bible Institute and Seminary, Danville, Virginia, Alamance Community College, Burlington, North Carolina, Patrick Henry Community College, Martinsville, Virginia, Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia, Piedmont Bible College, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Richmond Virginia Seminary, where he received a Bachelors Degree of Theology (B.Th.), Richmond Virginia, Jacksonville Theological Seminary, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Education, a Master's Degree of Theology and a Doctorate of Theology Degree, Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Thornton's professional background included: Assistant manager of Pet-Go-Round Pet Store, E. I. DuPont and Co., Inc.; Nestle Food Company, Administrator of Opera¬ tions of Blackwell and Associates; Title I Home/School Counselor for the Martinsville City Public School System; Owner of 'The Fish Keeper;" Founder of S.A.Y. Learn (Save A Youth); Senior Pastor/Teacher of the River Zion Missionary Baptist Church; CEO and Chairman of the Board for Transix, Inc.; Dean of Jacksonville Theological Seminary of Yanceyville. ---—-• His honors include: Charter member Leadership Southside; Leadership Alamance; Danville Community College Student Government President; Black Student Union, President; Tunstall High School Student Government President; Junior Class President; Sophomore Class President; Freshmen Class President; Who's Who Among American Junior College Students, Who's Who Among High School Students; Virginia Boys State Legislative Board; Nestles/Glenwood Adopt-A-School Chairman; Chairman of Nestle United Way '92; Sr. Drum major, Trojan Vanguard; and recipient of the John Phillip Sousa Music Award; Host Creative Pastor of Cedar Grove, Community of Caring Leader of The Year; Kirby Scholarship for Pastors; Most Outstanding, Pastor Of The Year, Clergy Of The Month (WDYA Radio); Albert Harris Dynamic Cadre Chairman. His past and present membership in academic and civic organizations has enhanced his goals and objectives while broadening his horizons, they include: Pittsylvania County Community Action; Virginia Sickle Cell Anemia Association; Chamber of Commerce; Danville Jaycees; North Carolina Long Term Care Association; Young Democrats; NAACP; Knights of the Sound Table; Chamber of Commerce Education Committee; Partners in Education Committee; Academic Achiev¬ers Committee; Henry County/Martinsville Child Abuse Prevention Council; Parent Resource Advisory Board of Directors of Henry County and Martinsville City; Focus Board of Directors; Extension Leadership Council Board of Directors; Alliance for Excellence Board of Directors; National Association of Elementary School Counselors, Market Research Analysis Association; Geographic Information Team Certified, Workforce Management Certified, Leadership Danville; Rainbow Daycare Executive Board and Child Abuse Prevention Council. His post and present religious experiences include: An Ordained Deacon of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church; Intermediate Sunday School Teacher (10 years); Director and President of the Fellowship Choir; Director and Secretary of the Male Chorus; Director of the Mass Choir; President of the Sunshine Choir; Gospel Choir; Dean of the Youth Department; S.C.A. (Shiloh Christian Association) Director; Usher Board; Junior Missionary; Young Men's Club; Smith River Baptist Association; Henry County Baptist Association; Director of the Martinsville High School Gospel Choir; Together-In-Christ Community Choir; Board member of the Virginia Mass Choir; Chaplain of the Laymen's League for the Smith River Baptist Association; Cedar Grove Ministers and Deacons Union; Pastor of the River Zion Missionary Baptist Church (7 years); Dean and Founder of the Yanceyville, North Carolina Branch of Jacksonville Theological Seminary; Founder of The Caswell County Community Mass Choir, and Enhanced a lot of ministries at the River Zion Missionary Baptist Church for the Kingdom of God; and Senior Pastor of Phillips Chapel Missionary Baptist Church (6 months). Dr. Thornton's views and prayers were holistic. This allowed him to share fully his administrative skills, preaching, teaching the kingdom agenda and delivering all facets of his theological methodology experiences successfully in many walks of his Christian Journey.. Although we sometimes may feel that his life was cut short God had a plan and knew exactly what he was doing. We must strive everyday to live the life that God wants us do so that when it’s out time he will have a place for us. We must try to live that life free from sin so one day Rev. Dr. S. Tyrone Thornton “WE WILL MEET AGAIN” Rest IN Peace 1966-2002
Kenneth is the older and only brother of Rev. Thornton. To him known simply as “Tyrone.” They grew up six years apart but as they years moved on the age difference didn’t matter. They both respected each other and complemented each other well in their God sent ministries. Kenneth is the Senior Musician at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Cascade, Va. where the Rev. Dr. John Tinsley is the Pastor. He has been playing the piano and organ there since the age of 10. Over the years he has played for various groups, Churches and programs which include many radio and T.V. spots. He played for recording artist Sis. Vicky Wilson and The Divine Host for 15 years. While playing with them he had the opportunity to share the stage with many gospel legends .He is currently the musician for Shiloh’s Unity Choir, Youth Choir, Male Chorus, Senior Choir and Fellowship Choir in which he is the President. “It’s hard sometimes trying to remember all the keys and tempos of the different groups but we are “The Down Home Church” and if we make a mistake we just smile about and move on.” Kenneth has been quoted as being a shy person, that may have been the case years but not so much now. The term now may well be just reserved. He states that he now likes to give other people a chance to talk so he can listen. He says being afraid to talk in his younger years help develop his writing skills. He has to his credit many copy written songs. Many of which are recorded. Those songs include: “He's Coming Back Again” by Psalm 108, and co-arranged the music for Jerine Coley’s “God Almighty”. He was the writer and executive producer for Deacon Phillp E. Smith and The Smith Family debut project “Thank You” and executive producer and co- writer of their second project “My Prayer.” The list also includes writer and executive producer for Donna Adams project entitled “He Rolls My Burdens Away.” He also has songs written for the second Donna Adams project. He says he’s just waiting on the Lord to give him the right time to record it. His most personal accomplishment was being the writer and executive producer for The Rev. Dr. S. Tyrone Thornton Memorial Mass Choir. At the time of this project Kenneth was out of work with a near fatal disease and each song has a special story behind it. To mention one he says he was in the hospital late one night laying flat on his back with IV. ’s in both arms and The Only Way he could look was up. His mind ran back to just a few days prier to going to the hospital the Ladies Prayer group from the church came by and one of the ladies read the scripture Psalm 119:71 It’s good that I have been afflicted… Once he was out of the hospital he called he close friend Minister Nigel Andrews and told him he had a song that he wanted him to sing. Without a question Nigel agreed. All of the other songs have similar stories. We Will Meet Again is to give hope to all that obey his command. If we do that we shall meet our loves again. Hold On which is introduced by Tyrone’s son and the verses led by Kenneth’s daughter , son and Tyrone’s daughter is simply saying when trouble comes all you have to do is hold to God’s unchanging hand. He also has a non published book of poems and stories and has had some of his poems published in national magazines. Currently he is in the process of writing a play to be announced soon. “I had to step up after Tyrone left us .He was always the spokesperson, He directed the choir and picked out the songs, all I had to do was play. He did all the speeches, all I had to do was write them.” Kenneth is married to the former Evonda Williams and they have two children, Brittney and Kenneth Jr. In addition to writing and playing the piano his other hobbies include weightlifting and channel surfing. He is also the co-owner of MAGnificent Creations. A custom design floral business where the slogan is “They Look So Real.” Along side his mother Mary “MAG” they create artificial trees and floral arrangements for any occasion or venue. He has his own publishing company named M-crea 8 publishing and promotions business named Thornton Music Ministries. He is employed at the Danville’s Goodyear Tire and Rubber plant as a hourly manager and a labor trainer with 25 years service. “I never get bored, there is always something to do.” “With God’s help I will do everything in my power to keep my brother’s name and what he stood for alive.” If we live right and live without sin, one day “WE WILL MEET AGAIN.”