Mildred Thornton

Mildred Sina (Dailey) Thornton was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 29, 1947, to John Porter Dailey and Clara (Dixon) Dailey. Mildred’s older sister Bettie, and younger brothers Larry and Milton, moved to Indianapolis during 1952. In 1953 her younger sister Blenda (Olivia) was born. Mildred’s youngest brother Leon was born in 1958 and Flesia (Dutchess) in 1960. Mildred attended Shortridge High School where she met her future husband Lloyd Elliott Thornton whom she married on October 3, 1964. Lloyd enlisted in the Navy after graduation and the couple moved to the Philippines, Germany and to San Diego, and eventually Indiana.

Mildred and Lloyd were blessed with two daughters, Jajuana Yivette Thornton (b. March 25, 1971) and Watonda (Tondy) Sharice Thornton born on Christmas Eve 1972. Mildred worked at Whitco Richardson for 16 years as a key punch operator, while attending school at IUPUI where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in computer science. She eventually left Whitco Richardson around 1993 and pursued a better career opportunity in the IT department of Simon Property Group where she became a prominent fixture receiving her 25 Year Pin in 2018. She continued there until her illness began in 2019. Mildred devoted time to many activities at her church The Light of the World where she sang in the Mass Choir and the Golden Light Senior Choir. She was a devoted and active Christian for the remainder of her life. Some of her activities included teaching in the Children’s Church, being a Deaconess, participating in the Youth Ministry on Tuesday nights, and in the Christian Women’s Fellowship. She also regularly attended meetings of the AIIGG (an ancestry group devoted to genealogy).

Mildred Thornton was preceded in death by her parents John X (Dailey), Clara 2X Muhammad (Dailey), her ex-husband Lloyd Thornton and her brother Larry Dailey. She is survived by her children Jajuana Thornton, and Watonda (King) Hayes and her siblings Bettie Dailey, Waayl Ahmad Salih (Milton Dailey), Olevia (Dailey) Bailey, Leon Dailey, and Flesia Kinann Dailey. She also leaves her grandchildren Kevin, Devon, Jhnzai, Darmone’, Julian, and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family.