Opal Anderson Horne was a member of the Greatest Generation. She endured hardships early in her life that most of us cannot imagine. As a small child, she picked cotton until her fingers bled. Her family didn’t have a lot but she didn’t complain or question. She lived the life God gave her gently and humbly with a steadfast trust in God.
Opal was born and raised in Abbeville, GA. She had 12 brothers and sisters – all of them passed on before her. She moved to Macon to work at the Naval Ordnance Plant where she met Jimmy. They married on December 31, 1942. Jimmy had a two-year old son, Mike, that Opal embraced and raised as her own.
Opal & Jimmy tried for 15 years to have a child of their own and finally in 1958 their daughter, Jan was born. As a testament to Opal’s commitment to her children, Jan didn’t realize that Mike had a different biological mother until she was a teenager. Opal never considered Mike her step-child. Mike was her son. Jan readily admits that Mike was Opal’s favorite and that it was OK – because Mike was favored by everyone – including Jan.
Opal was a devoted wife and mother. Her life was fully grounded around her family. Mike and Jan always had the best that Opal could give them.
Opal was strong. She was the anchor of her small family. Jimmy knew he could count on her to manage the household while he traveled with his job. Mike and Jan always knew they had a place to call home.
Opal was resourceful. Mike said that she could get two sandwiches out of a seemingly empty jar of peanut butter. She sacrificed so that she could provide more for her children. She was very handy around the house and her neighbors often called on her for help.
Opal was married to Jimmy for 60 years until his death in 2002. Mike passed away in 2006 and Opal never fully recovered from the loss of her son.
Opal had boundless energy well into her 80s. She loved red birds and hummingbirds and she adored her precious cat, Sammy.
Opal leaves behind a family that she held very dear, including her daughter, Jan, her granddaughters, Megan and Hannah, her grandson Jason (Mike’s son) and several nieces that were very special to her.
Opal’s legacy is one of humility, love, and trust in God. Every time we sacrifice for the benefit of others, every time we are gracious and generous, every time we carry our own burdens without complaining, we are living out Opal’s legacy on earth. When we keep our faith and serve without attracting attention to ourselves, we honor her memory.
Opal was a humble woman that lived her life quietly through love and prayer.
Our loss is Heaven’s gain and I’m sure she is seated beside her Heavenly Father.
In memory of Opal, donations can be made to All About Animals. https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=VWMCSSUUSGSB2
Friends may sign the online registry at www.faiihavenmacon.com.
FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services has charge of arrangements.