Betty Gaskins Thornton was the daughter of William Harrison Gaskins and Rosa Whiting Gaskins.  She was born in Ashburn, Virginia, July 7, 1923, the second of three children.  Both her siblings, Vincent Gaskins and Louise Bowles, predeceased her.

Betty was baptized by Reverend James Newman at Zion Baptist Church in Ashburn.  She attended the historic Ashburn Colored School, a one room frame building, now one of the few remaining black schoolhouses still in existence in Northern Virginia.

Betty met her future husband, Lewis Franklin Thornton, at the Ashburn School.  They married and migrated to Washington, DC, during the depression years. From their union, two daughters were born, Frances Lee and Marilyn Elizabeth.  Lewis and Betty were married for sixty-one years until Lewis' death in January 2003.  Many of their friends remember their Golden Anniversary and fifty-fifth anniversary celebrations -- a tribute from their daughters.

Betty was extremely proud of her family and their accomplishments.  Her oldest daughter Frances, who predeceased her, was the first African American female White House Correspondent for CBS News.  Betty enjoyed traveling to visit Frances in different parts of the country.

Betty was an excellent cook and earned a living as a cook and domestic worker.  She was an easy-going woman whom everyone respected. Kindness, generosity, and devotion to her family were hallmarks of her life.  She was an avid reader and enjoyed Chicken Soup for the Soul books and Debbie Macomber novels.

Among Betty's other great loves was her home at Arundle-on-the Bay in Annapolis with its beautiful tended yard and bountiful flowers.  She loved flowers and animals and doted on a long line of family dogs that included: Kitten, Ruffian, Tiffany, Teddy, Diamond Gem, and Sir Nubie.  During her final year, Betty was comforted by her grand-doggy, Leo, the little lion.

At age ninety, Betty moved to assisted living at Bartholomew House and then to Malta House, where she enjoyed bingo, dominoes, exercise and art classes.

Left to cherish her memory is her devoted daughter, Marilyn Thornton; sister-in-law, Yvonne Neal; brother-in-law, Leon Thornton; and dozens of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Viewing, 10 a.m. until time of Service, 11:00 a.m., Monday, September 10, 2018 at Michigan Park Christian Church, 1600 Taylor Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017.