Mayme Miller Horn of Columbiana passed away Oct. 24, 2010. She would have celebrated her 104^th birthday on Dec. 21 of this year.
Mayme was born in 1906 on the Hankins-Miller Plantation in Nanafalia in Marengo County by the Tombigbee River. She was the sixth of nine children born to Alonzo Asbury Miller and Winnifred Noble Hankins Miller. She was a decendant of Bishop Asbury and several other Methodists ministers. As the oldest living alumna of Auburn University, she graduated in 1929 from Alabama Politechnic Institute (API) in education. Mayme was one of the first members of Kappa Delta social sorority, joining in 1926. She was also a charter member of Columbiana Culture Club and the Delta Kappa Gamma teacher’s sorority. Also, during WWII, she worked for the welfare department.
She taught in Marengo and Shelby County schools for 25 years, teaching all elementary grades and public school music. Her gift of music was noted at age 3, part of a musical family. Mayme was church organist and pianist for over 60 years at Columbiana United Methodist Church. She also played for regional horse shows, Christmas programs at First National Bank, numerous weddings and more than 1,000 funerals at various churches and Bolton Funeral Home. Mayme continued to play for fellow residents of Shangri La Assisted Living in Columbiana until the end. We are so grateful for the loving care she received in all her years there. She was at home there.
While working for the State Agriculture Department, her father was given a grafted camellia from Mobile’s Bellingrath Gardens. He brought it home to Auburn and it grew over two stories high. As an avid flower gardener, Mayme raised hundreds of plants from these flower cuttings. Her yard has something blooming year round. Most everyone in Columbiana has a variegated Camellia she raised and gave to those who asked – even to some who didn’t!
Mayme has been a faithful member of Columbiana United Methodist Church since 1932 when she moved to Columbiana upon her marriage to Yeager Horn. This marriage lasted 50 years. Yeager died in 1982. Both were very dedicated to God and Columbiana United Methodist Church and extremely involved in all areas of worship there.
Mayme is preceded in death by parents and all siblings, her husband, Yeager and daughter-in-law, Laura LaBorde Horn.
Survivors are son, Howell Y. Horn; daughter, Carol H. Shurbet, both of Columbiana; grandchildren, Marsha Horn Harbin of Hoover, Kelli Shurbet Gilmer (Jeff) of Trussville, Randall Shurbet Jr. of Homewood; great–grandchildren, Zach Galloway, Logan, Griffin, Clay and Austin Gilmer of Trussville, and Lillian and Dagan Shurbet of Homewood. Also included is a dear, close friend of the family, Deby Wright of Hoover. There are three generations of nieces and nephews remaining to join a wide array of friends who will miss her great memory, wit and wisdom. Always a joy to be around, always positive about life and her Lord.
Mayme requested memorials to CUMC, PO Box 676, Choir Robe Fund or charity of choice. Celebration of her life will be at Columbiana United Methodist Church, Rev. Pete Grice presiding, on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2010. Visitation was held Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2010 from 6 until 8 p.m. at the church and one hour prior to the funeral.