Sornson
Linda Florence Thornton Sornson, 82, of Patterson, passed away Saturday evening, March 28, 2026, at her residence, following an extended illness.
Born October 3, 1943, in Waycross, she was a daughter of the late Thomas Albert and Wily Virg inia Thomas Thornton. She lived most of her life in Patterson and was a 1962 graduate of Patterson High School.
She was a veteran, having served in the United States Women’s Army Corp (WAC) where she was a secretary and stenographer. She also played for the Army basketball team.
Following her discharge from the military, she worked as a nurse’s aide, a dental hygienist and a car salesman and then obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
She worked for Memorial Hospital/Satilla Regional Medical Center (now Memorial Satilla Health) in Waycross in the labor and delivery unit for many years. She then worked as a nurse epidemiologist for the state of Georgia and worked alongside her husband as an assistant brick mason.
She was a member of Laura Chapel Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmy Ray Sornson Sr.; her daughter, Lisa M. Sornson Tanner; two brothers, Willis “Bud” Albert Thornton and Thomas James “Jimmy” Thornton and three sisters, Patricia Page, Merle Jean Taylor and Libby Strickland.
Survivors include her son, Jimmy R. Sornson Jr. (wife Annemarie), Jacksonville, FL; two granddaughters, Emily A. Sornson, Patterson and Virginia Rae Tanner; two sisters, Marilyn Snyder (husband Norman), Jacksonville and Debbie Griggs of Waycross; sister-in-law, Bonnie Thornton, Patterson; numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews she dearly loved and several other relatives.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.hartfh.com.
Hart Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.
