Rev. Charles Everton Thornhill

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Matthew 25:21 Charles Everton Thornhill the son of the late Aaron A & Gertrude E. (Hewitt) Thornhill was born on April 9, 1929 in Cambridge, MA. the eighth of ten children. He was predeceased by brothers; Kenneth, Othniel, Rev. Clyde, and James; and sisters Maizie Pina, Evelyn Minor and Esther Osborne. He was educated in the Cambridge Public Schools, graduating from Rindge Technical High School in 1946. He attended First Holiness Church in Cambridge where as a young boy (Lad) he committed his life to Christ and received his calling to preach the Gospel. Charles heard the call to preach at an early age. He would hold services and preach with family members as his congregation and now he has established himself as a landmark among his church congregation and communities where he witnesses for the Grace of God, love of Jesus, and the saving power of the Gospel. A graduate from Zion Bible Institute, Providence, RI. He received a Bachelor's of Arts (BA) Degree and Doctorate of Ministry from St. Martin's College & Seminary; and his Doctorate of Divinity Degree from Urban Bible College, Detroit, MI. Pastor Thornhill had been preaching, teaching and had pastoral experience that spanned over sixty years. He was uncompromising about the Word and advised future ministers to be solemn about their calling when doing what God called them to do. He was the former pastor of Zion Mission in Hyannis, MA and Beulah Temple Church in Louisville, KY. It was in Louisville where he met and married the love of life, his wife of 58 years, Mary Catherine Merritt. He later joined his friend in Milwaukee, the late Dr. Kenneth Athelston Bowen, Pastor of the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church and served as the Assistant Pastor for twelve years. In 1971, Pastor Thornhill was called to pastor the Greater Mt. Eagle Baptist Church, Racine, WI. He was the shepherd at Greater Mt. Eagle for twenty-four years. In 1995, he was called to the Mt Moriah Baptist Church where he served as pastor until his passmg. Pastor Thornhill's vision led the Mt. Moriah congregation to erect the new Mt. Moriah Chapel which was completed and held its first service the first Sunday of the year, January, 2015. Shortly after the completion of the Chapel, a street naming ceremony was held on Christine Lane to affix the honorary street name as Rev. C. E. Thornhill Lane. The next phases of construction include demolishing the old Mt. Moriah Church at 2747 North 4th Street, and construct a new edifice in its place. The newly built Chapel will then serve as Mt. Moriah's fellowship hall. Pastor Thornhill was always busy tending to the needs of his flock: visiting the sick and shut-in, bereavement, prison ministry, to name a few; he also found time to give to the community. He served on numerous Boards, such as: The A Center Board of Directors, Racine County Planning Council, Family Services Board of Racine, Third Vice President of Racine N.A.A.C.P., Racine Clergy Association, Black Congress-Carthage College, Night Chaplain-St. Luke's Hospital of Racine, President of the Interdenominational Ministers' Council of Racine and Kenosha, and a great deal more. In 2005 and 2006 he was one of the honorees recognized by the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. for 50 Years as Pastor. Additionally, Pastor Thornhill was an instructor at the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education and the Wisconsin General Baptist State Congress of Christian Education. He taught a Theology class every Monday in Milwaukee to pastors and lay persons. The words, "Here by His Grace" are forever etched in the hearts and minds of those who knew him. He leaves to cherish precious memories his beloved wife Mary Catherine (Merritt); sisters Muriel Barlett of Auston, MA; Elsie Scott (Ike) of Franklin, MA; Aunt Esma Goodridge of Somerville, MA; sister-in-law Myrtle Thornhill of Medford, MA; brothers-in-law Harold Merritt (Madlyn) of Athens, AL; Paul Merritt (Deanne) of Louisville, KY; his Mt. Moriah family; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Rev. Charles Is Still Singing I've done my work, I've sung my song And I shall go where I belong The Lord has willed it so He guides my steps, and he knows best He will not harm where He has best, And so good -night, I'll take my rest, Where sweet wild roses grow.

Rev. Charles Everton Thornhill

April 9, 1929 - April 1, 2016