Maxine Sample Thornton, 91, of Southaven, MS, died peacefully in her sleep on Friday, February 9th, 2024. She was born in Dyer County, TN on October 20th, 1932 to James Landers Parrish and Nervia Epperson Parrish. She was kind-hearted, selfless, caring, and loving. She was diagnosed with dementia in 2017 which then added some "sassiness" to her character. She was a lifelong churchgoer at Mountain Terrace Baptist Church and Georgian Hills Baptist Church and enjoyed singing in the choir. She was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. If the game wasn't televised, she would listen to her "ballgame" on the radio beside her recliner. She enjoyed road trips with her daughters and granddaughters and loved showing off her granddaughters at church. She worked at S. H. Kress and A & P Grocery. Before her retirement, she had worked at Kroger for thirteen years. She lost her first husband, the love of her life, Robert Leon Sample, suddenly in 1966 at the age of 34 after ten years of marriage. She remarried in 1971 to Joe Wilson Thornton and inherited a loving, and loved, second family. She was especially close to Valery Elizabeth Smith, Joe Shannon Thornton, his wife Cherybe, and her beloved "grandson," Joe Gillespie. She was married to Joe Thornton until his death in 1996. Ms. Thornton is survived by her daughters Rebecca Leona Johnson (Sid) and Linda Dianne Pryor (Steve); her granddaughters Nichole Garlington, Laurie Porter (Alex), and Courtney Efird (Derick); and her great grandchildren Sophie (14), David (10), Sarah (7), Emma (5), and Hudson (3); and a host of nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by her parents; her husbands; and her siblings Marjorie Jones, Sue Owen, Jean May, Joy Norton, and Buddy Parrish. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the Dementia Society of America. The family would like to thank the staff at The Goldton at Southaven and Spring Valley Hospice for the compassionate care given to both Maxine and her family.