Mary Martin Horner

Mary Louise Copeland was born in Alachua, Florida on January 4, 1936, to Frederick Archie Copeland and Louise Palmer Copeland, and passed away on February 11, 2023.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Maribeth Horner; granddaughters, Hollie Martin Horner and Anne Horner Barker {Andy); great-grands, Blake, Mattie and Ava Grace Barker; sister, Martha Walker, Quitman, GA; brother, Fred Copeland (Lisa), Indio, CA; and special sister-in-law, Betsy Martin Smith, Nashville. There are also numerous nieces and nephews and cousins in the Copeland and Palmer families who survive.
She is predeceased by her sister, Harriet Copeland Kilpatrick and by brothers-in-law, Jim Kilpatrick and Carl Walker.
Mary lived in Alachua until her parents moved to Valdosta, GA. She graduated from Dasher Bible School (now Georgia Christian School) at the age of 16 having skipped two grades.
Mary then came to Nashville and attended David Lipscomb College for a time before entering business school.
Mary met Dale Martin at Lipscomb and they married just before her 19th birthday in Alachua, Florida on January 1, 1955, which was her grandparents 54th wedding anniversary.
On July 3, 1961, they became parents of a beautiful baby girl named Mary Elizabeth Martin who was called Maribeth. Dale died just two years later from a chronic kidney disease.
Later, Mary was married for a while to Buford Bernard Horner Jr.
Mary worked for several types of businesses including Equitable Life supervising a group of employees processing Medicare insurance claims. She also served as secretary for Ashwood Church of Christ and then worked for several groups of doctors retiring as office manager for Dr. Houston Sarratt.
After Mary retired, she and Maribeth decided to combine households. Mary was an integral part of Maribeth's part-time catering business for several years.
In October 2007, Mary accompanied Maribeth to China where Maribeth was able to adopt an eleven month-old beautiful girl to bring back to Nashville. Hollie Martin Horner became the center of the lives of Mary, Maribeth and special aunt, Betsy Martin Smith.
After Mary's health declined, she moved to Waterford Assisted Living in Smyrna. She enjoyed being there and the family appreciates the care she received. It was there that she had a stroke on January 29, 2023. After hospitalization she was moved to Alive Hospice Residence where she passed away.
Funeral services will be conducted Friday, February 17, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. (visitation 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.) at Woodbine Funeral Home, Hickory Chapel, 5852 Nolensville Road. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery. Her family will serve as Pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to:
Raintree Village Children's Home
3757 Johnston Road
Valdosta, Ga 31601
ro
Nashville Christian School
(where Hollie is a student)
7555 Sawyer Brown Road
Nashville, TN 37221