Mary Genell Thorne

Mary Genell “Nell” Thorne, 93, of Austell, passed away on July 26, 2026, at home following a year-long illness. She was the daughter of Walter Franklin and Mary Alma Cross of Red Bay, Alabama. Nell grew up in Red Bay, Alabama, where she graduated from Red Bay High School where Nell was a cheerleader and a member of the Beta Club. It was in high school that she met the love of her life, Richard Claude “Dick” Thorne. They married on June 1, 1951 and were together for 61 years until Dick’s passing in 2012. Dick and Nell lived in North Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi during the first years of their married life. During this time, Nell became the mother to three children. The family moved to Georgia in the 1970s and shortly afterward, Nell began attending Marietta-Cobb Vocational Technical School where she earned her diploma in cosmetology. She then worked for the next 53 years as a Master Cosmetologist in the Smyrna/Marietta/Austell areas. She was also a member of Fortified Hills Baptist Church for 58 years. In her spare time, Nell enjoyed gardening, fishing with Dick, watching Atlanta Braves baseball, her church, and most of all, her family. She loved nothing more than having her children and grandchildren over for a hearty family meal and sharing in the joy and love of her family.

Nell was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Mary Cross of Red Bay, Alabama; a sister, Dorothy Casteel of Red Bay, Alabama; a brother, Charles Leon Cross of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and her husband, Richard Claude Thorne of Austell, Georgia. She is survived by her son, Bruce (Sue) Thorne of Powder Springs, Georgia; daughters, Nan Thorne of Austell, Georgia, an Traci (Jeff) Downing of Covington, Georgia; and grandchildren Brad Thorne of Powder Springs and Skyler Downing of Whitewater, Wisconsin; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2026, from 1:30 pm until 2:00 pm at West Cobb Funeral Home in Marietta, Georgia, followed by a funeral service at 2:00 pm in the chapel of West Cobb Funeral Home with the Rev. Josh Price officiating. Interment will be in Cheatham Hill Memorial Park.