Vernon W. "Buddy" Horne Jr.

Vernon W. "Buddy" Horne Jr., of Norman Park passed away on Monday, May 1, 2017 at Archbold Memorial Hospital in Thomasville, Georgia. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m., Thursday, May 4, 2017 at Crosland Baptist Church with Dr. Jimmy Voyles officiating. Interment will follow at Deep Bottom Cemetery with Brother Dudley Cook officiating. Pallbearers will be Jim Horne, Wes Horne, Chad Horne, Brent Chitty, Stacy Chitty, Brett Taylor, Jason Gibbs, and Philip Branan. Born March 18, 1937 in Norman Park, Georgia, he was the son of the late Vernon W. Horne Sr. and Thelma Louise Edmonson Horne. He graduated from Norman Park High School in 1955. He received an associate degree from Norman College in 1957. He earned a degree in forestry from the University of Georgia's Warnell School of Forestry in 1961. He was a Georgia Registered Forester. He retired from Beadles Lumber Company after 35 years. He operated Horne Forestry for 10 years before retiring. He was an active Packer Booster for over 30 years and was a member of the Colquitt County Sports Hall of Fame. He was an avid Georgia Bulldog fan. He had been an active member of First Baptist Church Norman Park for most of his life serving as Sunday school teacher, choir member, deacon, chairman of the board of deacons, and served on numerous committees. He recently joined fellowship with Crosland Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife and the mother of his children, Rose Marie Strickland Horne and sister, Geraldine Horne Branan. Survivors include his wife, Carol Ann Horne of Norman Park; sons, Dr. Jeffrey Wilson Horne and wife Ann and Dr. Jamie Alan Horne and wife Martha, all of Norman Park, Georgia; daughter, Jill Horne Jones and husband Hobie of Clayton, Georgia and stepson Carlton Perry and wife Angie of Norman Park; grandchildren, Elizabeth Rose Horne, Wil Horne, Ryan Horne and wife Hillary, Zachary Simmons and wife Taylor, Spencer Horne, Lauren Horne, Lane Stockton, Meredith Stockton, Jaycee Perry, Juliana Perry, and Jayna Perry; brother, Carl Wesley Horne and wife Jody; sisters, Donna Mills and husband Wayne and Sue Taylor and husband Buddy; two great grandchildren, Addy and Tony; sisters in law, Judy Carlton and Mary Lynn Chitty and brother in law Carson Branan. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3rd at Baker Funeral Home. The family may be contacted at 481 East Broad Street, Norman Park, Georgia 31771. Flowers are accepted. Donations may be made to Georgia Sheriffs Youth Homes, P.O. Box 1000, Stockbridge, Ga. 30281 or Crosland Baptist Church Building Fund, 155 J. P. Perry Road, Norman Park, Georgia 31771. Arrangements have been entrusted to Baker Funeral Home. Please leave condolences for the family at www.bakerfhga.com .