Carolyn Hornback

1952 - 2025

Carolyn Hornback, 73, passed at her home while surrounded and held by loved ones on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.

Born Nov. 21, 1952, Carolyn lived a life marked by strength, perseverance, faith and an unwavering devotion to her family. As a fierce and relentless fighter, she battled breast cancer and the lasting effects of treatments for over two decades with remarkable courage and grace.

Carolyn was a woman of faith whose relationship with Jesus carried her through the tough times and blessed her with the good times of her life. Before her illness slowed her, she found joy in the simple, meaningful things in life – cooking meals for her family, quilt piecing, reading a good book and the Bible, shopping, flower gardening, hummingbird watching and enjoying every moment with those that she loved most.

She was married to the love of her life for 50 years, spending most of those years keeping him in line and rolling her eyes at his many shenanigans and stories and realizing that keeping him straight was an impossible job but a job that she treasured nonetheless.

Above all, Carolyn was a devoted mother and Nana. Her daughters were the pride for her heart and she loved them with a deep, unconditional love. She was their encourager and supporter. To her girls, she was the very best example of strength and love. The brightest chapter of her life came with the arrival of her grandchildren, Ben and Anna Kate. She cherished them with a special love that only a Nana could give – a love that was overflowing with pride, tenderness and pure delight. Her greatest legacy will live on through her daughters and grandchildren.

Carolyn's greatest reward in Heaven is surely the embrace of her Savior and the reunion with her beautiful daughter, Farrah, who with no doubt meet her at the gates.

She was preceded in death by her father, Riley Layman Cecil; mother, Dorothy Wilmoth; daughter, Farrah Lynn Hornback; grandfather, William Layman Cecil; and grandmother, Birdie Mae Cecil.

Carolyn is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Tim Hornback of Elizabethtown; two daughters, Beth (Joe) Stinnett of Elizabethtown and Jena Hornback of Elizabethtown; sister, Norita Lamb of Elizabethtown; and two grandchildren, Ben Stinnett and Anna Kate Stinnett.

The funeral is at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, at Oak Hill Baptist Church in Sonora with the Rev. Mike Walker officiating. Burial will be in Oak Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Manakee Funeral Home in Sonora or from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Oak Hill Baptist Church in Sonora.

Condolences may be expressed at manakeefuneralhome.com.