Mrs. Clarice Jones Hornbuckle 84, Pineville, NC. passed away Thursday,August 30,2018 at Carolinas Medical Center – Pineville. Funeral service will be held Tuesday September 4,2018 at First Baptist Church West 1801 Oaklawn Ave. Charlotte, NC 28216. Visitation will begin at 11:00 am and the service will follow at 12:00 pm. Interment will take place in Oaklawn Cemetery 1608 Oaklawn Ave. Charlotte, NC 28216.
Mrs. Clarice Jones Hornbuckle, wife of the late John Allen Hornbuckle and daughter of the late Leverta Elizabeth Jones was born June 14, 1934. She finished Mebane Colored Elementary School, and was valedictorian of her high school graduation class from Graham Colored High School. In 1958 she earned her BA degree from Livingston College, and in 1962 she earned the Master of Education Degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Filled with the love of learning, she furthered her education in African Studies at the University of Connecticut and in administration at UNC-Charlotte.
She started her teaching career at Ada Jenkins Elementary School in Davidson. In the early months of integration she facilitated black history and sensitivity workshops in race relations for the Charlotte school system. In 1970 she received a Department of Health and Education fellowship to study in the West African Countries of Ghana, Dahomey, Togo and Nigeria.
She retired from the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System in 1988 after 30 ½ years of dedicated service as a teacher, supervisor, in service trainer and assistant principal at Alexander Junior High in Huntersville, NC.
Clarice served as Democratic Judge and as Chief Judge of voting Precinct #209. She was affiliated with the following organizations: Delta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated where she has served as Tamias Grammateurs; Phi Delta Kappa, National Education Association, and NC Education Association.
Her Christian life started early at St. Luke Congregation Christian Church in Mebane, North Carolina where, at the age of nine, she was pianist for St. Luke Gospel Choir. In 1975 she joined First Baptist Church-West where she met John Hornbuckle. In 1977 they were married and lived happily for seventeen years. God called him home in 1994.
As a member of First Baptist-West she sang in the choirs, was interim choir director, church pianist and pianist for the children’s choir. She served on the following boards: Finance, Christian Education and Mission and Evangelism; and she directed the Tutorial Program for approximately nine years. She was also a tutor, a member of Missionary Group IV, co-teacher of Sunday School Class 2 and a member of the Board of Associate Deacons.
She leaves to celebrate her life three daughters: Lavonda Mark (Ricky) of Raleigh; Patricia Barrett (Antonio) of Charlotte, Nina Wright of Charlotte; four sisters: Joan Dunlap, Carolyn Spivey (William), Janice Clement all of Charlotte and Jannette Jones of Pleasant Garden; two brothers: Franky Jones (Rita) and FredyJones (Barbara) of Haw River, preceding her in death Walter Lee Jones (Jackie) and Richard Jones; Thirteen grandchildren: Keisha Williams (Travis) of Raleigh, Kimberly Douglas (Frederick) of Pineville, and Kevin Mark (Shanise) of Raleigh; Monica Taylor of Raleigh, Antonio Barrett of Washington, DC, Christina, Allison, Erin, Angelle and Amber Barrett of Charlotte, Christian Barrett of Belmont, Patrick Barrett of Albemarle and Lauren Barrett of Tennessee. Proud Great Grandmother of 7: Talia, Gabrielle, McKenzie, Eva, Sydni, Jaylin, and CJ. She is eternally loved by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
God called her home on Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 1:30pm at Carolina Medical Center, Pineville, NC.
“If when you give the best of your service, Telling the world that the Savoir is come: Be not dismayed when men don’t believe you: He understands: He’ll say, “Well done.”
