 Brightening Lives - Above is a childhood picture of Jerry L. Horne. He was a resident at the United Methodist Children’s Home from 1948 to 1950. He lives a life of service to others, and has created a legacy of caring to his family. |
Submitted by Athena Horne Johnson, daughter of, Jerry L. Horne, a past resident of the United Methodist Children’s Home. Athena lives in Phenix City, Alabama.
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Jerry L. Horne, Sr. is my dad and he is an alumnus of the Children’s home, he lived there 1948 - 1950. His story is one of success.
He survived much in his young life - both parents deceased before he was 10 years of age and no one in the extended family was able to take him or his brother William Rickey Horne who spent only a short time at the Children’s Home because he was deaf.
My dad was born in Phenix City in the days when it was called sin city before the clean-up. He was a ward of the state, being removed from the care of his dad who was unable to care for him or his brother.
In 1950, after the death of his father, Clara White Puckett, my dad’s aunt took him in. She was the sister to his deceased mother. At age 15, Aunt Clara encouraged my dad to join the US Air Force. She signed paperwork stating that he was 16 years of age.
My daddy served in the USAF where he learned his job as a firefighter. He worked for the Phenix City Fire Dept for over 20 years. Before retiring he served as District Chief. He earned a degree in Fire Science at Chattahoochee Valley Community College and taught EMT (Emergency Medical Treatment) classes. Through the years he has worked with a Boy Scout troop, and growing up I recall him always serving others.
He then moved on to work at Pratt & Whitney in Columbus, GA for 10 years. He then retired from there and served a few years as deputy sheriff in Marion County, Georgia. He has worked as director of Georgia Emergency Management Agency in Marion County/Buena Vista, Georgia, as well.
He is an active member of the Masonic Lodge and has always worked hard to provide for his family. As a child it was hard for me to understand the force that drove him to work so hard, but now that I am grown with grandchildren of my own, it’s easy to see.
I’m sure I’ve left something out as to his accomplishments, because there are many. I believe that the love and kindness he was shown by Mr. & Mrs. Kilgo, house parents at the Children’s Home, and others who helped take care of him had a positive impact on his life and helped him to become the man he is today.
No one could ask for a more loving and devoted daddy, grandpa and great grandpa. He’s also a devoted and loving husband to my step-mom, JoAnn.
Blessings to you and all of those you at the UMCH have helped and continue to help.
Submitted by Dr. Judy Manning, Central Region Director
While the kids from the Children’s Village were at Zoo Lights in Montgomery on December 26, they also had a small meal at the café there. During the meal, one of the kids apparently said the following:
“Do you know how much I like ketchup? As much as God loves me!”