DELHI  — A celebration of the life of James W. “Buddy” Thornton, 81, of Delhi will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Cox Funeral Home Chapel in Delhi with the Rev. Steve Hillman and the Rev. Tony Smith officiating.

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. Friday until the time of service.

Burial will be at the Delhi Masonic Cemetery under the direction of Cox Funeral Home.

Mr. Buddy was a Navy veteran and a longtime member of the Westside Baptist Church in Delhi.

He was a former plant supervisor at Delhi Manufacturing Co., an avid gardener and a lover of animals.

Buddy is preceded in death by his loving wife, Mona Louise Smith Thornton; his parents, Erley Jackson Thornton and Willie Mae Corley Thornton and two brothers, Erley D. and Rex Thornton.

He is survived by one daughter, Linda T. Tubbs and her husband Toby of Monroe; one grandson, Adam Tubbs of Monroe; a sister, Joy Ann “Sue” Dowe of Utica; a sister-in-law, Fann Meyer of Monroe; and numerous nieces and nephews.

To leave a message of condolence to the family please visit our Web site at www.coxfuneral.com.