Melba Horne

Melba Kennedy Horne, age 81, of Ellenboro, NC, went home to be with the Lord Thursday, March 21, 2019 at her residence.
Melba was born April 25, 1937 in Rutherford County to the late Paul Major Kennedy and Ollie Grant Kennedy. She was a graduate of Ellenboro High School, class of 1955 and a longtime member of Caroleen Baptist Church. Melba enjoyed teaching Sunday School, helping during Vacation Bible School and serving on the Kitchen Committee at the church. She worked at Burlington Industries-Caroleen Plant and later worked at Ellenboro Elementary in the cafeteria. Melba loved gardening, reading and sewing, but her greatest joy came from being with her family and spending time with her grandchildren. She loved her family dearly.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of forty years, James Horne; sister, Juanalda Francis; brother, Robert Kennedy and a grandchild, Jamie Elizabeth Vambaketes.
Those left to cherish her memory include four loving daughters, Libby Carlisle (Mike) of Shelby, Kathy Upton (Kent) of Ellenboro, Deborah Smith (Mark) of Winston-Salem and Wendy Moore (David) of Raleigh; and a sister, Nancy Walker of Ellenboro. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Tommie Thomas (Neel), Sarah Upton, Samuel Upton, Megan Smith, Hannah Smith, Morgan Rollinson (Kevin), Haley Moore and two great-grandchildren, Ellison Thomas and Grant Thomas.
The funeral service will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 24, 2019 at the Harrelson Funeral Chapel with Reverend Lanny J. Funchess officiating. Interment will follow in Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior the service at the funeral home.
Memorial donations are requested to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, P.O. Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043.