A Celebration of Life

Otis Cornelius Horne, Sr.
Sunrise: May 14, 1960
Sunset: November 7, 2017

God has every right and my permission to
rearrange my life at any time, in any way, in
order to fulfill His plan for using my life as an
influence for His Glory.


Saturday,November 18, 2017
11:00 a.m.
Bible Based Fellowship Church
4811 Ehrlich Road
Tampa, FL 33624


Officiating: Rev. John T. Warren
Eulogy: Rev. Arthur H. Mitchell
Senior Pastor: Rev. Anthony C. White

REFLECTIONS OF LIFE
Otis Cornelius Horne

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:”

A Time to be Born and a Time to Die
Otis Cornelius Horne was born on May 14, 1960 in Gulfport, MS to the late Otis Jesse and Veronna Flowers Horne. He was the sixth of ten children born to this union. He was preceded in death by his brother, Booker T. Horne. He departed this life on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at St. Joseph Hospital North in Tampa, Florida.

A Time to Plant
Otis was nurtured in the Turkey Creek Community located in Gulfport MS where his parents planted the seeds of family, faith and education. Hewas always surrounded by his large immediate and extended family. He united with Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church at an early age. He attended Harrison County Public Schools and graduatedfrom Harrison Central High School in 1978. Otis was always a dependable and responsible child who ensured that he did what was necessary to support his parents and siblings. His siblings lovingly remember him as very genuine, organized, cool, composed and poised; this was his disposition all the time.

A Time to Uproot
Otis was uprooted from his family when he left Gulfport on June 1, 1983 to join the United States Air Force and he served his country patriotically for 22 years and 5 months. He was Honorably retired on October 31, 2005 with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant; only 1% of the enlisted personnel obtains this rank. He was stationed in various places around the country including, Korea, Germany and Guam. He loved the adventures of travelling, learning new things, tasting cultural cuisine and meeting new people.

A Time to Build
Otis married Jeroline Mitchell on July 23, 1988 and they traveled together rearing two children, Jennifer Nicole and Otis Cornelius, II. Building a family brought him great joy; he was a very devoted husband and a supportive and loving father. He was a consummate provider and leader of the household. He embraced these responsibilities with his natural sense of order, sprinkled with a great sense of humor and orchestrated an environment of compassion and safety. His children loved finding ways to make him laugh and he wasnotorious in his ability to crack a joke or say something funny to keep the mood light and happy.

A Time to Search
Otis enrolled in Saint Leo University and earned his Bachelors of Science in Computer InformationSystems in 2004. After retirement from the Air Force, hesettled in Tampa/Odessa, Florida. He started a second career at MacDill Air Force basefor 13+ years as a Program Analyst, Deputy Branch Chief of Rotational Branch for Forces Division, Headquarters U.S. Central Command. The family united with Bible-Based Fellowship Church where he was a member of the Usher Board. He was also a 33rd degree Mason.

A Time to Love
Otis loved and always put family first! He loved to cook and was great on the grill, baking or making delicious holiday feasts. He loved to share his home and food with family and friends.He enjoyed taking Duke on walks around the neighborhood. He was an excellent bowler, avid runner and meticulous landscaper…enjoyed working in his yard.He also enjoyed going out with his wife and was very active in any occasion/event that involved fellowshipping with family and friends.

A Time to Mourn
Otis leavesto cherish his memories; a wife, Jeroline Mitchell Horne; two children Jennifer Effler (Steven) and Otis Horne II; eight siblings: Veronica Jones, Tampa, FL; Sylvia Plunkett (Eric), Upper Marlboro, MD; Alfreda Horne, Gulfport, MS; Theodore Horne (Yolanda) Memphis, TN; Vernon Horne (Patricia), Meridian, MS; Jeana Harvey (Augustus), Gulfport, MS; Irma Cousins (Albert), Memphis, TN and Gilbert Horne (Linda), Pearl, MS; In-laws: Charles Mitchell (Linda) Montgomery, AL; Jacqueline Mitchell Gholston (Hank) Conyers, GA; Kenneth Mitchell, Valdosta, GA; Arthur H. Mitchell (Natasha) Conyers, GA; Michael Mitchell, Tallassee AL; JoAnne Mitchell, Tallassee, AL; 17 nieces, 14 nephews, 24 great nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, we request that you send a donation to assist with the rebuilding of Lee Elementary School, a school that just burned down in Tampa. Please make donations out to:

Regions Bank
Jeroline Horne FBO Robert E. Lee Elementary School Account-4997.