John Gadsden Thornhill

John Gadsden Thornhill, 67, of Charleston, South Carolina, entered into eternal rest Tuesday, January 30, 2018. His Funeral Service will be held Monday, February 5, 2018 in the St. Michael's Church, 80 Meeting Street at 3:00 p.m. Interment, Churchyard. The family will receive friends Sunday from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. in J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel.

John G was born in Charleston, SC July 19, 1950. He attended Gaud School, graduated from Porter Gaud and from Clemson University in 1974 where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He and his partner Irving Peters acquired Charleston Bay Gourmet catering in September, 1991. His previous employment was with Atlantic Insulation, Southern Oil and Charleston Oil Company, established by his grandfather and his grandfather's brother in 1909. He was a member of SC Waterfowl Association (SCWA) and received the Award of Honor from Ducks Unlimited in 1979. The SCWA will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to John G posthumously at their Sportsman's Ball on February 16. John was a past member of the Rotary Club of Mt. Pleasant and recipient of the Service Above Self Award in 1982-1983.. He was a member of St. Andrews Society and the New England Society.

John G was a man's man who dearly loved being in the woods and hunting. He traveled to South America, Mexico and all over America in pursuit of ducks, dove, quail, deer and elk but was most comfortable in his dearly beloved Lowcountry woods. He loved the pursuit of game but more than that loved the comradery and stories produced by those hunts. John G was a great storyteller and raconteur, and never met a person who was not touched by his personable manner.

He is survived by his mother, Jane Lucas Thornhill; his sister, Jane Thornhill Schachte (Joseph); his brother, Theodore Wilbur Thornhill II (Winston); three children: Mary Frances Van Landingham, Christopher Gadsden Thornhill (Autumn Rose) and Lucy Bayman Thornhill; two grandchildren: Dylan Gadsden Van Landingham and Tucker Gadsden Thornhill; two nephews: Theodore Wilbur Thornhill III and Simeon Van Noy Thornhill; and one niece, Ann Winston Thornhill.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Clemson Fund, 110 Daniel Drive, Clemson, SC 29631, the South Carolina Waterfowl Association, 9833 Old River Road, Pinewood, SC 29125, (online donations can be made at swa.org) and Pompion Hill Chapel Foundation, 724 Royall Avenue, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.