Oliver Horne

Oliver Max Horne, 82 of Clarkton, NC passed away 2:42 AM, Friday morning, February 21, 2014. He is preceded in death by his parents Simon and Thelma Horne and a sister Sarah Horne. Max was a native of Columbus County, NC, the oldest son of Simon and Thelma Horne born September 29, 1931 and raised on the family farm in the Oakdale Community. He graduated from Evergreen High School in 1950 and immediately, with his cousin Buck Horne, enlisted in the Navy, attending boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, serving at Ship Repair Facility Guam, attending Damage Control School at Naval Station Treasure Island, San Francisco, California and serving at Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii respectively from October 1950 to 1954 attaining the rank of Damage Controlman Petty Officer 2nd Class. He was introduced to Daphne Jefferson Burney of Bladen County, NC by his cousin Avis Bullard, on Madison Street, Whiteville, NC in the summer of 1952 while home on leave after finishing his tour on Guam. He returned on leave after completing Damage Control School to marry Daphne January 31, 1953. They were married by Rev. W. A. Crowe, Pastor of Bluefield Methodist Church, in the church parsonage in Elizabethtown, NC. Max then departed for Pearl Harbor alone to complete his four year enlistment. Upon leaving the Navy he returned to Bladen County, NC, taking up residence with his wife on the farm in the Bluefield community where Daphne was born and raised. From 1954 to 1959, in addition to farming, Max worked as a John Deere mechanic for Johnson Cotton Company, Elizabethtown, NC, and in maintenance at the Riegelwood, NC paper mill. While continuing to farm, he briefly entertained the notion of reenlisting in the Navy in 1958, but then in 1960 he was hired as a rural mail carrier for the Clarkton, NC Post Office where he delivered the mail on Route #2 for 30 years. Max retired from the Postal Service in 1990 due to declining health. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Clarkton, NC where he served recurring terms as a deacon and twenty seven years as church treasurer. He served his community as a volunteer fireman, charter member of the Clarkton Rescue Squad and a member of the Lion's Club. Additionally, he was a 32nd Degree Mason, Shriner.

Max is survived by his wife of 61 years, Daphne Horne of Clarkton, NC; son Tim Horne and wife Angela of Fayetteville, NC; daughter Jane Horne Miles and husband Bob of Clarkton, NC; brother Charles Horne of Whiteville, NC; sister Doris Bordeaux of Leland, NC; brother Doug Horne of Whiteville, NC; four grandsons, Nathan Horne, Travis Horne, Daniel Horne, Keith Miles; three granddaughters, Sandi Miles Hanley, Robin Miles, Traci Miles; and one great grandson Gabriel Hanley.

The family will receive calls and visitors on Saturday afternoon and evening February 22 from 2:00-8:00 PM at the home, 550 Martin Gourd Road, Clarkton, NC. A graveside service will be conducted by Rev. Larry Pittman at Brown Marsh Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 8561 Mercer Mill-Brown Marsh Road (State Road 1700), Clarkton, NC, 4:30 PM Sunday afternoon, February 23. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to Brown Marsh Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund c/o Clarkton Presbyterian Church, 10433 N College St, Clarkton, NC 28433 or Shriner's Hospitals for Children c/o Sudan Shriners, 403 E. Front St., New Bern, NC 28560.