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Foundation

The Donna S. Thornton

Hospice Home

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Breaking Ground November 2026 

Architectural rendering of The Donna S. Thornton Hospice Home at Warwick Forest, highlighting the welcoming wraparound porch, white brick exterior, expansive windows, and landscaped grounds. Front entrance rendering of The Donna S. Thornton Hospice Home, featuring a covered porch, accessible entryways, and residential-inspired architecture designed to create a warm, welcoming environment. Full front elevation rendering of The Donna S. Thornton Hospice Home, illustrating the home's expansive covered porch, natural light-filled windows, and inviting residential design.
Announcing
The Donna S. Thornton Hospice Home

Made possible through a transformational philanthropic investment, The Donna S. Thornton Hospice Home will expand access to compassionate hospice care for patients and families across our region. This dedicated space will provide comfort, dignity and support in a welcoming, home-like setting for patients whose care needs cannot be met at home.

Watch Jim's Story

A lifetime of memories, a remarkable love story and the legacy that will continue caring for others for generations to come.

Close-up of two hands wearing wedding rings resting together on a burgundy surface.
The Donna S. Thornton Hospice Home logo with a teal leaf emblem and the text 'Part of the Riverside Health Network of Care.'
“We want it to be known as a home, not a house, not an office, not a facility,” Thornton said. “It needs to feel like home.”

For those whose medical, caregiving or family circumstances make receiving hospice care at home difficult, The Donna S. Thornton Hospice Home will offer an intimate environment on the campus of Warwick Forest with four private rooms designed to provide specialized care, comfort and meaningful time together.

Person standing in a peaceful wooded setting holding a framed photograph of a loved one in remembrance, highlighting a personal story of hospice care and legacy.

A Promise to Donna

One husband’s promise to his high school sweetheart will become a home for families at the end of life.

Jim and Donna Thornton were married for nearly 56 years. Together they built a life that took them from Alabama to Texas, to Raleigh and eventually to Virginia. They raised their daughter, Ragan, built careers at the shipyard and became grandparents. They worshipped and served together.

And somewhere along the way, Donna asked Jim to make her a promise. Neither of them could have known then just how much that promise would one day mean.

Service was woven into their life together. They were active in their church and spent time visiting residents of a local senior living community, singing songs, sharing devotionals and enjoying simple fellowship over cupcakes and ice cream. After one of those visits, Donna and Jim were driving home. Donna had begun noticing some changes in herself. She told Jim that if something happened to her—if her health or her mind declined—there was something she wanted him to know.

She wanted to stay home.

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Coming Soon!

Upcoming naming opportunities will allow you to honor or remember a loved one within The Donna S. Thornton Hospice Home while supporting compassionate hospice care. Contact the Riverside Foundation to learn more.