Martha Horne

1929 - 2018

Martha Horne

Cordova, TN

Martha Helen Russell Horne, 88, of Cordova, TN, passed away on June 2, 2018 at Baptist Memorial Hospital.

Martha was born on November 13, 1929 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas to parents Pearl and Guy Russell. She graduated from Arkadelphia High School and Henderson State Teachers College (now Henderson State University) where she majored in home economics and education. She met her future husband, Bill Horne, in freshman English at Henderson. After graduation in 1952, Martha and Bill married and moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas. She taught home economics and English at Cutter Morningstar School.

Due to Bill's work, the couple moved frequently. They went from Hot Springs to Baton Rouge, Louisiana then to Texarkana, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; Sikeston, Missouri; Wichita, Kansas; and then back to Sikeston. In 1966, they settled in Memphis, Tennessee.

While in Missouri, Martha worked for the Missouri Department of Human Services as a social worker. In Memphis, she worked for the Tennessee Department of Human Services where she moved through the ranks to a supervisory position and then department head.

During vacations and after retirement, Martha and Bill loved to travel. They spent time at dude ranches in Montana riding horses. They rode mules down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, camping out overnight in the canyon. They traveled to Alaska, Panama, including cruising through the canal, China, including walking along the Great Wall, England, Germany, France, Italy, Morocco, and Israel. Martha was a member of Covenant United Methodist Church.

Martha was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Joe Horne; parents, Pearl Williams Russell and Guy Clifton Russell; and granddaughter, Sarah Katharine Biffle. She is survived by her children, Sheri Horne Biffle of Memphis and Russell Curry Horne of Arlington, Tennessee. She is also survived by grandchildren, Allison Horne of Memphis, Michele Horne of Arlington, and Ashley Byrom (Colt) of Homewood, Alabama. Martha had three great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 12-1 p.m., Thursday, June 7, with graveside services immediately following, all at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Covenant United Methodist Church, 8350 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova, TN 38018.