Josephine Hornes

QUEEN MOTHER JOSEPHINE TILLERY HORNES born one generation away from slavery, nine months and nine days after the turn of the twentieth century (September 9, 1900) in Conconnara Township Halifax County, Tilley North Carolina to emancipated slave parents Henderson and Anna Taylor Tillery. Her parents' thirteenth child, Josephine only knew three of her siblings-Lucy Tillery Jackson, Callena Tillery and Sallie Tillery Hogan; the others died before she was born. Anna Taylor Tillery died in October 1901 leaving her husband with four young girls to rear. The untimely deaths of his children and wife devastated her father, but drew the girls very close to each other.Henderson’s cousin, Isaac Smith and his wife Lizzy took little Josephine into their home. Isaac’s parents, Chanie and Simon Smith, lavished her with love and taught her about Jesus. At age sixteen she confessed Jesus Christ as her personal savior, was baptized in the mill pond by Rev. Willie Wiggins, and joined Tillery Chapel Baptist Church. Mother Hornes explains her conversion experience this way, “I moved out of that old house. I don’t live there any more”. Jo attended Chestnut Grove Public School in Tillery, North Carolina. She furthered her education at Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School in Baltimore, Maryland under the guidance and counseling of the late Dr. Alice Pinderhughes.Josephine Tillery married Charlie W. Hornes on December 24, 1924 in Tillery, North Carolina. The couple moved to Baltimore, Maryland in February 1925. Their house was indeed “the house by the side of the road”. When they came to Baltimore, family members, friends, and friends of the family all made the Hornes’ house their home on Jefferson Street. For more than 50 years, on Barclay Street, the Hornes raised eight children: Leila, Larry, Marshall, Jacqueline, Joseph, Carolyn, Clarissa and their granddaughter Lynell.Her prayers and Christian walk helped her husband to accept Jesus as his personal savior. Living under the authority of Christ allowed the couple to exercise spiritual gifts: teaching, preaching, evangelizing, intercession, healing, hospitality, and giving. For many years, they worshipped and worked together in the Israel Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. Edmund D. Meade. Subsequently, Charlie W. Hornes was ordained to the Gospel Ministry (In those days women were not ordained in the Baptist Church). In 1955 they founded Triumph Missionary Baptist Church, now Triumph Christian Church.After walking together for sixty-seven years, Rev. Charlie W. Hornes left his beloved Jo in their “house by the side of the road” and moved to his heavenly mansion. Even though she was poor economically, Aunt Jo (many called her) was rich in love and sympathy for others. Josephine Hornes continued their custom of opening heart and home to whomever the Lord sent her way, including alcoholics, drug addicts, the homeless, as well as the mentally challenged. She extended friendship and sympathy to all people regardless of their race, color, creed or station in life. By giving her love and meager substance, she drew people, young and old to herself. One could always find a kind word, a piece of bread, and a few coins at her door. Through wise counsel, and sympathetic understanding, she led many souls to a closer walk with their fellowmen, and with the Lord Jesus Christ. When asked to what she contributed her long life, she said, “Treating others the way I want to be treated”.A godly woman who walked with God is no more; she vanished from this life on Monday, July 10, 2006 at the age of 105. Josephine left her earthly “house by the side of the road”, and went to live in her heavenly mansion. Pastor Swann and the entire Triumph Christian Church family will miss Queen Mother Hornes shouting, “Oh Glory!” and passing out candy after church service.Her memory will always be in the hearts of her surviving children: Lelia Hughes, Larry Jackson, Rev. Marshall Moore (Donna), Jacqueline Butler, Joseph Chapman, Carolyn Taylor. Nieces, Anna Frances Alston, Lillian Heartwell, Josephine Stephenson and Carrie Cornish, will cherish the memories of a lifetime at Aunt Jo’s feet. No one, only God, will fill the void left in the hearts of her great-niece/caretaker, Carol Glover; granddaughter-who she called her “stepmother”-Lynell Butler (David), three generations of grandchildren-some who knew her, and some who did not-will relish stories of Granny, Grandma, or Aunt Jo (as she was named). Clarence Adams, Janice Taylor, Constance Sleigh, Brenda Robinson, and other adopted grandchildren will treasure the opportunities they had to care for and “fuss-over” her. Generations of nieces, nephews, extended family members, courtesy family members, friends, and neighbors will long remember Aunt Jo. Pastor Swann and the entire Triumph Christian Church family will miss Queen Mother Hornes shouting, “Oh Glory!” and passing out candy after church service. All who knew and loved this extraordinary woman of God, have been enriched because of the life style lived and the legacy left by JOSEPHINE TILLERY HORNES.

Tributes

Josephine Hornes

September 9, 1900 - July 10, 2006