Sue Ann Thornton

Sue Ann Thornton (88) entered eternal rest on 02.05.2025 in Macon. A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, May 3, 2025, 1 PM at Hart’s at the Cupola in Macon, GA.

Born in Sayre, PA in 1936, to the late Evelyn Willatt Thornton and Basil C. Thornton, Sue graduated from Waverly Senior H.S., Waverly, NY. She received a BA degree from Lake Erie College, an M ED degree from the University of Arizona, and Ed S degree from the University of Georgia. She taught Spanish in Odessa, NY (1959-1962), and taught English and was a school administrator in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands (1962-1971). From 1972-1994, she was the high school guidance and system test coordinator in Crawford County, GA.

In 2007-2008, Sue served as State President of the GA Retired Educators Association (GREA). A former Area Director for GREA and former chair of the GREA State Services to Members Committee, she belonged to both the Crawford County and Bibb County local REA units.

A former member of the Roberta (GA) United Methodist Church, Sue was a member of the Riverside United Methodist Church, where she belonged to the Woodruff Sunday School Class. She was also a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society and the Macon Study Club and had been an AARP volunteer.

Sue loved to travel, not as a tourist but as one who enjoyed spending extended periods of time in particular areas, experiencing everyday life there. She considered London, England, and Prishtina, Kosova to be her second homes. She hosted several exchange students and maintained close relationships with: Jeannine Ameri (Amir) and children Michael, Isabel and Mariam, (Switzerland); Britt Simonsen Frimand (Lars) and sons Jacob and Esben (Denmark); Marta Gomez-Rodulfo (Edward) and son Jordan, (Netherlands), and Melanie Schmidt Unseld (Robert) and daughter, Felicity (Germany).

Although Sue had no blood children, since 1992 she was a member of the Kabashi family from Prishtina, Kosova.  She considered the children from the Kabashi family as her own. Survivors include her son, Agon Kabashi (Yllka) and their children Nita and Gent; daughters, Adelina Kabashi Kushevica (Visar), and sons, Arber, Jon and Leon, who were her world; Melita Kabashi Berisha (Luan) and daughters, Zana and Lira; and Eranda Kabashi Kapiti (Ilir) and children, Rron and Fiona; as well as the children’s birth parents, Dr. Jashar and Sebahate Kabashi, to whom Sue was grateful for allowing her to be a mother; and Nadire Kushevica (Visar’s mother), who was like a sister to her.

Extended family survivors include her cousins: Edward Robinson (Marcia), Fair Haven, NY and Sarasota, FL; Neil Willatt (Teresa), Largo, FL; Viola Farr, Lockport, NY; Barbara Farr, Sayre, PA;

Sue’s long-time friends are: from Roberta, GA, Sara Paravis; Patricia Bassett; Rita Marable; Janice Hunt; from Macon, GA, Onie Sanders, who was a loyal friend and made Sue’s life fun; Mike Hammett who was an angel on earth to Sue; Bernard Turner; Donna Medlin; Jean Hagood; Lynn Palermo; from Atlanta, GA, Crystal Watkins; from Gainesville, GA, William and Linda Chandler; Virginia Edmonds; Dr. Bill Sloane; from Athens, GA, Emily Gunnells; and from Austin, TX, Jenny Coffey.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Alexander IV Senior Living (Quentin Jones) and Brightmoor Hospice staff for taking such good care of Sue.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Georgia Retired Educators Foundation, in c/o Dr. William Gardner, 11 Springer Way, Rocky Face, GA 30740 or to the Lavern Bentley Scholarship for Crawford County Retired Educators Association, in c/o Barbara Moss, PO Box 413, Roberta, GA, 31078.

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.

Hart’s at the Cupola, Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center, 6324 Peake Rd, Macon, GA 31210 has charge of the arrangements.