Mr. Clarence Ronald "Ronnie" Thornton, Sr. of McDonough, Georgia passed away on Sunday, December 21, 2014 at the age of 70. Ronnie was born on August 13, 1944 to Clarence and Thelma Thornton of Jonesboro, Georgia. Upon graduating from the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville and the FBI Academy in Washington, DC he became an officer for the Clayton County Police Department. He served for 14 years where he rose from the rank of patrolman to Chief. He was considered by many in the law enforcement community to be a visionary thinker who helped transform the small rural department into the professional law enforcement organization that it is today. After his retirement from the police department in 1980, he became a prominent businessman and philanthropist with numerous developments around the metropolitan Atlanta area and US Virgin Islands. Some highlights of his career were helping to bring the Beach Volleyball Venue to Clayton County for the 1996 Olympics, playing a major role in the development of Henry County Airport in Hampton and Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. Ronnie was also known as someone with a giving heart supporting numerous charities. Ronnie is survived by his wife, Margie; children and their spouses, Stephanie (John) Turpin of Atlanta, Ronnie, Jr. (Christie) Thornton of Locust Grove, Andrew (Mimi) Thompson of Atlanta, Leslie (Beau) Nelson of Covington; grandchildren, Gadson, Kalee, Marley, Julian, Mason, Ella, Drew, Anabelle, Maddox and Madeline. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, December 27, at Stockbridge First United Methodist Church at 2:00 pm with Elder Eldrin Bell officiating. The family will receive guest from 1:00 pm until time of service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Clayton County Humane Society at claytoncountyhumane.org or the Kensley Grace Aquatic Center at kensleygrace.com.