Lillie Ellen Gibbs Hoey Thornton was born in Gaffney, SC, June 15, 1926, to George and Ellen Gibbs.

She attended the public school system and graduated from Granard High School, class of 1942 as the Valedictorian.

Lillie joined St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church where she served in multiple roles, including Church Musician (57 years), Financial Board Member, trustee and liaison to various organizations. She eventually moved to Ypsilanti, MI, where she lived with her oldest son and daughter-in-law.

In addition to her parents, George and Ellen Gibbs, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Curtis Hoey, and Charles Thornton; siblings, Estelle, Viola, Wilbert, James, Jesse, Martha, Rosemond, and Robert Gibbs, Vera Gibbs Sims, Pauline Hutley, and Julia Tate.

She leaves to cherish her loving memories: three sons, Marion Hoey (Mary), of Ypsilanti, MI, George Hoey (Erin Hoag), of Boulder, CO, and Dennis Hoey, of Flint, MI; five grandchildren; five great grandchildren; a great-great granddaughter; a great-great-great granddaughter; a nephew, Jesse Gibbs, Jr, of Gaffney, SC; three nieces, Martha Ann Littlejohn, Belinda Cheryl Gibbs, both of Gaffney, SC, and Elaine McKenzie, of Forestville, MD; a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral Service was held on Saturday, September 19, 2026, 11:00 a.m., in St. Mark Missionary Baptist in Flint, MI.

Courtesy of The Gilmore Mortuary