Mabel Wilcoxson Thornton was born Sept. 5, 1909 to Mary Elizabeth Crow Wilcoxson and D T Wilcoxson in Anderson, in Lauderdale County.
At 100 years, eight days, she was the surviving child and eldest of the five Wilcoxson children, Carl, Olivia (Alexander), Neil and Cornelia.
She and Melton D. “Moon” Thornton were married in 1935 in Lexington.
The Thornton family moved to Montevallo in 1948. Mr. Moon preceded her in death in 1992.
Surviving are her children, Mary (Gleason), Dan and Jon Thornton and their spouses, Fred Gleason, Molly Yarbrough Thornton and Becky Britton Thornton.
Also surviving are five grandchildren, Frederick and Mary Beth Gleason, Aimee Thornton Vance, Goodloe Thornton Aaron, Ingram Thornton and five great-grandchildren.
Mabel grew up in Lexington. She attended Athens College, the University of Montevallo and the University of Alabama.
She began her teaching career in Lexington. Music, drama and literature were always a part of her life.
She was an early member of the extension service and was active in local Red Cross activities during WWII and in her lifetime in Shelby County.
She retired from the Shelby County School system in 1971.
She and Mr. Moon were active participants in the education community as teachers, parents and friends for more than 40 years.
She served and participated in many education related activities in Montevallo, at Thompson High School, in Alabaster, in Shelby County, at Alabama College and in the State of Alabama.
As an accomplished musician, she was church pianist in Lexington before her feet could reach the floor, church choir director and school choral director; she spent many years as senior sponsor, teacher and mentor at Thompson High School in Alabaster.
In Montevallo, Mabel was active in civic clubs and organizations and faithful to the United Methodist Women.
She was a cradle Methodist and long–time member of the Montevallo Untied Methodist Church, at one time choir director, long–time Sunday School teacher.
In her last years, Mabel was a resident of the Shelby Ridge Nursing Home in Alabaster.
The joy of friendships and careful loving attention continued to be shared with and by Mabel in this good home.
There was an extraordinary extended family at Shelby Ridge, with friends there and from Montevallo and Alabaster, and former Students from Thompson High School.
Her visitation will be Wednesday evening, Sept. 16, 2009, from 5-7 p.m. at Rockco Funeral Home Chapel Montevallo.
Funeral Service will be Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009 at 2 p.m. in Rockco Funeral Home Chapel, burial to follow in the Montevallo City Cemetery. Rev. Denise Mullaney officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to any of the following organizations: Montevallo Senior Service/Meals on Wheels, 154 Vine St. Montevallo, AL 35115; Montevallo FFA Alumni Scholarship Fund, PO Box 688 Montevallo, AL 35115; St. Wilfrid’s Episcopal Church Marion, AL 36756, Montevallo First United Methodist Church, Montevallo, AL or Alabaster First United Methodist Church, Alabaster.
Rockco Funeral Home, Montevallo is directing. Rockcofuneralhomes.com.