Willie Fred Thornhill

Willie Fred Thornhill, 80, of Hamburg, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at his cabin in Fountain Hill. Bro. Thornhill was born January 12, 1944 in Hamburg, was a graduate of Hamburg High School and after graduation, he joined the Army National Guard. He was called to be a servant of the Lord and attended the Missionary Baptist Seminary in Little Rock and in 1976, he served as Pastor at Seven Springs Missionary Mission in Heber Springs. He began serving as Pastor at the Lufkin Missionary Baptist Chapel in Lufkin, Texas in 1984 and ministered for the Prison Ministry at several prisons in the East Texas area as a Volunteer Minister. Bro. Thornhill was called as Pastor of the Pine Forest Missionary Baptist Church in Crossett in 2012, where he faithfully pastored until he was called home. You could often find him fishing and camping with his family and friends on the Mississippi River and at Lake Chicot or hunting at the Chavis/Thornhill Hunting Club in Fountain Hill.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 47 years, Yuvonne Chavis Thornhill and his loving parents, Odis and Oria Morrow Thornhill.

He is survived by two sons, Steve Thornhill (Alice) of Lufkin, Texas and Terry Thornhill (Gary) of Camden; a daughter, Tonia Williford (Jake) of Porter, Texas; two brothers, T.J. Thornhill of Malvern and Lee Thornhill of Hamburg; three sisters, Martha Scroggins of Bastrop, Louisiana, LaNell Morgan of Start, Louisiana and Bonnie Laughlin of Lake Village; four granddaughters, Laci Reynolds, Kristin Fletcher (Zach), Ashlyn Kennedy (Evan), and Davalyn Miknal (Ashton); five great-grandchildren, Kaden Thornhill, Aisley Reynolds, Emma Reynolds, Ashton Fletcher and Brooklyn Fletcher and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services are 10 a.m., Tuesday, December 24, 2024, at the Pine Forest Missionary Baptist Church with Bro. Joel Meredith officiating. Burial will be in the Prairie Grove Cemetery.  Pallbearers are  Allen Chavis, Kevin Dale Chavis, Tim Chavis, Wade Pennington, J.D. Pennington and Denton Rice.  Honorary pallbearers are the Men of Pine Forest Missionary Baptist Church.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to your church in memory of Bro. Willie Thornhill. 

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Monday at the funeral home.