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Joel William Cullen (Billy) Horne, Jr., age 92, passed away at Columbus Hospice on Thursday, November 7, 2019.  Billy was born on December 7, 1926, in Lakeland, FL, but lived most of his life in Americus, GA.  He is the son of Clara Methvin Horne and Joel William Cullen (Will) Horne, Sr., who owned Horne Lumber and Coal Company in Americus.  His sister was Mrs. T. B. Simpson and his brother is Col. Terrell E. Horne, USAF retired.  He was married to Irene Howard Horne from October of 1946 until she died in 2013.

Billy graduated from Americus High School in 1943 at the age of 16.  He joined Kappa Alpha fraternity at Georgia Tech and graduated in June of 1946 at the age of 19 with a degree in Civil Engineering.  He was married to Irene for 67 years. Billy and Irene had four children: Melinda (Will) Bramlett, Will (Shirley) Horne, Angie (Brent) Stanford and David (Cathy) Horne.  Grandchildren are Wendy (Keith) Jolly, Jarrett (Jared) Jackson, Kate Stanford, Laura (Layton) Griffin, Margaret Stanford, Molly (Trammel) Coleman, Candice Young, Camille Horne and Genie Horne.  Great-grandchildren are Clara and Megan Jolly, Lila Grace, Avery and Juniper Jackson, Landry and Luke Griffin, and Lillie Coleman.

At Georgia Tech, Billy was a champion high jumper (5’11 ¾”) and he played the trumpet in the marching band.  He also played the piano by ear (mostly on the black keys!).  He and Irene enjoyed ballroom dancing and square dancing.  Billy was a lover of golf – the sport, the competition, and the social aspects.  He had a private pilot’s license and kept a plane at Souther Field.  In 1976, Billy and Irene campaigned for President Jimmy Carter in the “Peanut Brigade.”  For many years, he was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Americus and served as president in 1977.  He and Irene were also very active at First Methodist Church.

As a registered civil engineer, Billy built hundreds of homes in Americus, Blakely and Atlanta.  For a few years, he owned Americus Building Supply in Americus.  He always loved being with family and friends, especially children for whom he’d magically find a quarter behind their ear!  He has also published an autobiography entitled “Truth and Humor.”  Dad believed in God and that Jesus was his savior and the savior of the world.

Since Irene’s death, Billy has lived at Perfect Care and Magnolia Manor in Americus and most recently, after a stroke, moved to Columbus near his sons.

Billy’s funeral will begin at 2 pm Sunday at the First United Methodist Church in Americus.  Visitation will be at the church beginning at 1 pm.

You may leave condolences for the family at www.greghancockfuneralchapel.com.

Greg Hancock Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.