Jeff was born in Fairbanks, Alaska and grew up in the Washington suburbs of Virginia and Maryland. At the age of 15, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord and that event defined his life. He lived in Southern Maryland for the past thirty years and is survived by his wife, Cindy, and their sons, John, Paul and Luke, and his sister, Jana.

Jeff graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Zoology. He studied at Grace Theological Seminary and graduated with a Masters of Divinity in 1979. Following graduation, he became an Assistant Pastor at the Grace Brethren Church in Temple Hills, MD and began a Grace Brethren Church in Charles County with a Bible Study. He also started a Bible Study in Frederick, MD that later became Grace Community Church. He founded Grace Christian Academy in 1986. The school offers preschool thru 12th grade and is located at 13000 Zekiah Drive in Waldorf, MD. He served as Senior Pastor of the church and Headmaster of the school for over 31 years.

Numerous churches were started all over the world with the support of the Waldorf church and Jeff's mentoring of many people through internships. He initiated ministries oriented toward meeting physical, emotional and spiritual needs. His last sermon, on May 1, captured the summum bonum of life, God's love as defined by 1 Corinthians 13. This was the measure of Jeff's life. He devoted himself to loving God, loving people and introducing others to the love of Christ.

He was son of James F. Thornley and Olga Marie Simpson Thornley.

A Visitation will take place on Monday, May 9, 2011 from 4-8pm at Grace Brethren Church,13000 Zekiah Drive, Waldorf, MD 20602. A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 11am at Grace Brethren Church Clergy will be the Rev. R. Dallas Green Interment will follow at Heritage Memorial Park, Waldorf, MD.

Memorial Contributions are asked to Grace Brethren Church, c/o Sanctuary Enhancement Fund, 13000 Zekiah Drive, Waldorf, MD 20601.

Arrangements provided by Raymond Funeral Service.