Sunrise: March 26, 1960, Sunset: November 05, 2025
Visitation: Friday, November 21, 2025 3pm to 7 pm, Daniel and Son Funeral Home, 401 W. 18th Street, Bryan, Texas 77803
Service: Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 2:30 PM Declaration Church 4200 Boonville RD. Bryan, Texas 77803
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”) Proverbs 3:5-6
James W. Thornton was born on March 26, 1960, in Bryan, Texas to James Whitfield and Jannie Thornton. He grew up in Mumford, Texas, and attended public school in Hearne, Texas, graduating in 1978 from Hearne High School. After graduation, he moved to Bryan, Texas, and began working for Texas A&M University, where he met and married Essie Faye Williams. To this union four children were born. While working for the university he found his passion for law enforcement and began a 35-year career in different agencies across Texas. James retired in 2010 but couldn’t stay away from his passion for long and began working part time as a constable for Waller County where he was promoted to Lieutenant in 2023.
As a young boy you could always find James with a bottle of milk, a BB gun, and his dogs headed to the woods to hunt. Throughout his life he enjoyed being a father, grandfather, cooking, baking, and coon hunting. He was a member of the Professional Kennel Club and a Free Mason. James took pride in his coon dogs and made sure he treated them like queens. He always took time to be a good friend to those going through rough times.
James Thornton was preceded in death by his parents, James and Jannie Whitfield, and his sister, Laura Whitfield. James leaves to cherish his memories, a wife (Essie Whitfield), Mother-In-Law (Ina Mae Williams), Children (Temisha, James, William, and Corey), grandchildren (Layla Johnson, Lataya Whitfield, and Jayla Whitfield), a daughter-in-law (Alexis Whitfield), his coon dogs, family, and friends.