Katharine Macon Horner

      DURHAM- Katharine Macon Horner, 74, died peacefully February 11, 2026 at Duke University Hospital after an extended illness. Born May 21, 1951 in Henderson, Katharine was the daughter of the late Katharine “Kappa” Macon Horner and Guy Thomas Horner.

     Katharine graduated from Henderson High School in 1969; she never forgot her HHS classmates and loved their periodic class reunions. She graduated from Atlantic Chistian College (now Barton College) in 1973 and was a member of the Delta Zeta sorority where she developed life-long friendships. After graduating, she taught school for a year in Estill, SC before earning her Associate of Nursing degree.

      Upon obtaining her nursing degree, she worked in Emergency Nursing and Intensive Care in Virginia Beach, VA and medical, pediatric and oncology at Maria Parham Hospital in Henderson. She found her real calling in nursing at Duke University Hospital in Durham where she worked from 1989 until 2013 in Oncology OB/GYN and High-Risk Obstetrics.

      Katharine was a most selfless, kind and fun-loving person. She gave generously of both her time and resources. She participated in six medical mission trips to Haiti, Honduras and Venezuela and assisted Habitat for Humanity in Biloxi, MS after Hurricane Katrina. She endowed two major scholarships to Vance Granville Community College, each one named for her maternal grandparents, Pattie Alston and George Wilson Macon and her paternal grandparents, Lelle Courtney and Guy Thomas Horner.

     Katharine loved to travel, especially after her retirement. She traveled extensively, including her Duke Medical Mission trips. She met many people on her travels who became lifelong dear friends and future travel partners.

     Katharine is survived by her brother, Guy Thomas “Tom” Horner, Jr. (Candy) and her sister, Courtney Alston Horner Kluttz (Jim). Also surviving are her beloved niece, Elizabeth “Betsy” Alston Horner and four nephews, Thomas Macon Horner (Nichole), James Whittle Kluttz, Jr. (Cameron), Nathaniel Macon Kluttz (Alixe) and Lawson Thomas Kluttz (Rebecca). Travelling with them was one of her great joys. Whether she was taking Betsy abroad or piling the boys into the car for a Braves baseball game or a trip to Six Flags, she treasured spending time with them all.

     She was so proud of her eight surviving great nieces, Lilly, Madilynn, Samantha and Hope Horner and Emerson, Gracie, Liza and Mary Mack Kluttz, as well as her two surviving great nephews, Whit and Law Kluttz. She loved to bring books to share with them on her many visits.

    Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 11:00 A.M. at Liberty Christian Church by Pastor Burwell Stark. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends following the service in the Liberty Christian Church Fellowship Hall where lunch will be provided.

     In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Liberty Christian Church, C/O Mattie May, 1887 Epsom Rocky Ford Road, Henderson, NC 27537 or Vance Granville Community College Foundation, VGCC, P.O. Box 917, Henderson, NC 27536 (please specify Horner/Macon Scholarships).