Obituary of Mary Virginia Horne

MARY VIRGINIA HORNE was born October 28,1930 to the late Willie T. and Vernon M. Smith of Cartersville, Va. MARY also known as "Sis" graduated from Luther P. Jackson High School in Cumberland, Virginia with honors in French. She was joined in holy matrimony to Albert Charles Horne of Eatonton, Ga. They made their home in Riverhead, NY where her children were born. While raising her children and working for the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, Mary earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Long Island University. In 1991 she retired following 33 years of service. At an early age, she confessed Christ and was baptized and united to the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church of Cartersville, Va. under the leadership of Reverend John Gordon. Upon moving to Riverhead, NY, she joined the First Baptist Church of Riverhead under the leadership of Reverend Charles A. Coverdale where she served on various Committees and Boards. She remained a faith member. Mary was simply a champion of good in her community! She received many awards for her community service. She received an award for her service as a Junior Girl Scout leader in 1971 and 1972. In 1970, the National Council of Negro Women awarded her for community service. In 1974, Central Suffolk Hospital recognized her for 2500 hours of volunteer service. In 1988, 1990 and 1992, the Society of Mary McLeod Bethune, Inc. awarded her its Achievement Award. In 1994, she received the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Meritorious Award. Where all of her awards and accomplishments cannot be listed, she was particularly proud of the one that she earned in 1995 from the Suffolk County Department of Health as Social Worker of the Year after being retired for two years! Riverhead Township gave her a "Key to the City" shortly following, designating October 6th of each year "Mary Horne's Day - Retired and Refired! Humble and meek, she took great pleasure in writing beautiful and insightful poetry. She delighted in writing obituaries for her friends and loved ones. She published two books of poetry and was working on a third when her health began to deteriorate. She leaves to carryon her memory: Yvonne Neal (Craig) of Yonkers, NY, Arlene Harrington of Hampton, Ga., Joanne Humbles (Terrence) of Riverhead, NY, Brenda Williams (James) of Jonesboro, Ga. and Barry Horne (Ella) of Riverhead, NY; twelve grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren whom she loved and prayed for continuously. She was predeceased by her sister: Alice Booker and brother: John Smith, but memories of her will always be cherished by two brothers: Raymond and Herbert Smith (Marcelle) of Riverhead, NY, one sister: Evelyn Hargrove (Melvin) of Powhatan, Va.; three aunts: Mae Johnson of Coram, NY, Minnie Smith Cartersville, Va., Katherine Smith of Baltimore, Md., a host of friends and her beloved Church Family.