Carolyn C Thornton

Carolyn Virginia Cuppett Thornton, died January 21, 2018, after a valiant fight against cancer.
Born November 30, 1938 in Jacksonville, Florida, she grew up in Jacksonville, and lived most of her life in Vero Beach, Florida, after moving there in 1971. She was proud to be a “G.R.I.T.S.” (Girl Raised in The South).

On a full academic scholarship, Carolyn graduated cum laude from Florida State University with a BS in Education, and membership in national honor societies, Phi Betta Kappa and Alpha Lambda Delta. She was president of her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega and, consequently, passed on to her children the love of a good theme party. After getting married and having kids, she went back to school to earn her M.Ed. in Educational leadership at Florida Atlantic University—forcing the family to endure many a “crockpot” meal.

Carolyn loved education and children (particularly her grandkids). Teaching was natural for her—especially for her favorite—second grade! She taught school in Duval, Alachua, Miami-Dade, and Indian River Counties over a thirty year career from 1960-2014. She taught in the elementary classroom setting and understood, and worked with, the unique needs of children with Early Specific Learning Disabilities, Exceptional Student Education, Hospital/Homebound Instruction, ESOL.

Surviving are her son, Daniel Lines Thornton, Jr. and partner, Adrian Rodriguez, of Miami, Florida; daughter, Allison Thornton Stonis and husband, Luke; and two grandchildren, Jack Thornton Stonis, Adeline Mae Stonis, all of Columbus, Ohio; ex-husband, Daniel Lines Thornton, MD of Vero Beach; and ferocious feline, Sunshine.
Carolyn was the daughter of the late Joseph Ashby Cuppett, the late Georgia Mae Cuppett, and sister of the late Margaret McIlvaine, all of Jacksonville.

The Memorial services will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, January 27 at Evergreen Funeral Home, followed by Ceremonies and Gathering of Remembrance at 11:00 AM.
In memoriam donations may be made to DonorsChoose.org, where you can select a public-school teacher and a classroom project in need.

Arrangements are all by Evergreen Funeral Home. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery.