Carolyn Virginia Thornton was born November 23, 1945 in Urania, Louisiana to the union of James Davis Holloway and Lillian Smith Holloway. She passed from this life after a brief illness on July 23, 2026 at Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital with family at her side.

Carolyn was a strong willed, resilient and loving woman. She loved her family like no other and made it her life’s mission to make sure they knew it. She was a loving wife of 53 years and raised one son, along with both of her grandchildren. Never one to be confined, you could usually find her outdoors, whether it be using her God given green thumb tending to her flowers and raising a bountiful garden, fishing in the pond, or just sitting on her porch enjoying a cup of coffee watching the many hummingbirds that visited her yard. She had a way with animals that always meant, at every stage of her life, she had a loyal companion. She seemed naturally talented in every craft she studied and was surely a jack-of-all-trades. She loved to read and was a well-accomplished cook.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, James Davis Holloway and Lillian Smith Holloway, husband, Randy Thornton, two brothers (Norman and Kenneth), and one sister (Beverly).

Those left to cherish her memory are her son, Vincent Thornton (Jennifer), grandson, Brandon Thornton (Morgan), granddaughter, Jessica Thornton Chapman (Dustin), great granddaughters, Annabeth Thornton and Davina Chapman, sister, Barbara Miller, brothers, David Holloway (Martha) and Joel Holloway (Debbie) and several nieces and nephews.

She will be missed immensely but her legacy will surely live on in the lives she touched with a warm hug, a caring smile or a slice of one of her delicious cakes.

A memorial service is planned for 10:00 AM, Saturday, August 8, 2026, at the chapel of Riser Funeral Home in Olla, LA, with Rev. E. R. Johnson officiating.