Dates
A Scholar, An Educator, a Molder of Young Minds…Pamela Lewis Thornton
Pam was born on August 13, 1957 in Houston, Texas. She was the daughter of Dr. John M. Lewis, a world renowned cardiologist and Donna Palmore, who once reigned as the Baylor Homecoming Queen. ‘She came from good stock.’ Pamela was the loving wife of Tom (T Gozney) Thornton whom she married in 1982 in Austin, Texas, and a devoted mother to Tiana Lee Hennings and Eric T Thornton. She got 11 year old Eric in the deal at the tender age of 24 when she married T and raised him as her own.
Pamela attended Chatham Hall in Virginia, an exclusive Girls School where she graduated in 1975. She competed Cross Country, Hunter-Jumper horse competitions and won awards throughout the South. She then went on to study at the University of Texas in Austin where she received her BA in both English and History in 1983. She waitressed to pay for her education and was always insistent on leaving at least a 20% tip when eating out. She returned to the halls of academia and received her Masters in Education from ASU in 1996, graduating with a 4.0 GPA.
Pam dedicated many years of her life to teaching, beginning her career at Cornerstone Christian School then moving to Water Valley ISD for 8 years and onto Central High School where she retired after 30 years of teaching Advanced Placement English and Writing to High School Juniors. She made a lasting impact on her students and was dearly loved by them. She was awarded “Teacher of the Year” at Water Valley and twice at Central for her dedication and passion for education.
Outside of work, Pamela was an active member of the AA organization, providing support and guidance to those in search of changing their lives through belief in a higher being. Pam continued her love for horses, especially her mare “Dancer” and found solace and joy in spending time on horseback and just commiserating with them. She also enjoyed going to her mountain “Cabin” in Alto, NM where she and her trusty Texas Blue Lacy, Reina would take long and extended hikes on the back trails, enjoying the deer and elk and the occasional coyote they would discover on their treks.
On June 12, 2024, Pamela passed away after a brave battle with Lymphoma Cancer. Her legacy lives on through her children, grandchildren and all of those lives she touched with her kindness and compassion.
She is survived by her HUSBAND “T” (Tom - T Gozney) Thornton, her daughter Tiana Lee Hennings and her sons Cohan and Drake and her son Eric Thornton and wife, Eva and their children Thomas, Erica, Emmanuel “Gene” and Pete Thornton, her brother, John Lewis, Jr. and wife Megumi, her sister Linda Sunde and husband, Dr. Doug Sunde and many cherished nephews and nieces, great nephews and nieces and cousins, aunts, uncles and friends. Especially her good friend Sandra Hulse, whom she thought of like a mother.
Although Pamela may no longer be with us, her spirit and her memory will forever be cherished by all who knew and loved her. May she rest in peace with her sweet Jesus, whom she loved with all of her heart.
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at the Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd, at 2:00pm with Fr. Hal Scott officiating. Burial to follow at Knickerbocker Cemetery.