The following are some thoughts on my life’s journey, memories and other stories    - – words by James Calvin Horner  

A story about Grover Cleveland Horner, My Pap:

After Dad, Mae and the children moved to the farm, sometime later he took on a job with a company selling bibles. There was not a car in the family until 1945. His only method of transportation in selling these bibles was walking. He always talked about one time when a German Shepard dog attacked him and bit his finger, His finger was always stiff after an encounter with the dog.

After sometime of being a member of Stony Gap Church, dad accepted the request of him being ordained as a deacon of the church. As mentioned before Grover taught the men’s Sunday school bible class. And sometime later he felt the call to preach the gospel and was ordained into the ministry of Missionary Baptist Association. Dad was a licensed preacher but did not feel the need to be ordained as a pastor until a church called him to be their pastor.

Dad was well known throughout Hancock County Tennessee. Several churches would contact him to fill in for ministers that needed a substitute at the time.

1945 he and Emory went together and bought a 1936 Chevrolet sedan. Dad tried his best to learn to drive, but had real problem understanding the concept of driving.  He had a preacher friend that had 2 sons that my brother Mark and I were very close to at the time. So one Sunday afternoon Dad said to us “Boys let’s go visit his preacher friend Louis Davis.” He said ”Boys I’ll drive!” It was only a 2 mile trip. He made it good on Highway 66 across War Ridge road, but he tried to make one of these hair pen turns, he failed to straighten the wheel and ran off the road. The car and us went off the road and turned completely and landed back on it wheels. Dad said “Boys are you alright?” Luckily the accident did not hurt any of us physically, but the car was really banged up. So much that we had to get a team of horses to pull it back up to the road.  The car was drivable and we continued to use the beat up car for years. Grover didn’t drive after that and left the driving up to the boys.

The Sundays that Dad was ask to fill in to preach, I would always drive him. He and I had a very close bond and he trusted my driving. He shared many conversations that I have fond memory of. He was a very well known man throughout Hancock county and the only town in Hancock county, Sneedville.

Dad stayed basically healthy, except for arthritis in his joints. He lived a long serving life and passed away in 1977 at the age of 92.

Dad was blessed with a wonderful second wife Jessie Seal. She was a prayer warrior.

She prayed daily for Dad and the family. I always appreciated her love and caring for Dad and all the family. My mother Jessie Seal Horner made a wonderful wife for dad, Step mother for Dad’s 8 children and being a mother for Mark, Faye and me. Her health got bad a year after my dad.

-My family:

I feel this is a good place to mention some things about my family and our history. 

The Lord has blessed Lydia and I, come may the 4th 2021 we celebrate our 70th wedding anniversary. We are looking forward to the birth of our 14th great grand child. Her Brother Juda will be happy to have a little sister. Juda turned 2 years old in 2021.

I am the first child that my mother Jessie Seal and I am Grover Cleveland’s ninth child.  I think mother named me after her father James Seals and my father gave me the name of Calvin after his grandfather and his brother.  I also used the name James, in my first born son (James Edward) and Calvin in our second born son (Dennis Calvin). Dennis Calvin also named his son Calvin, and one grandson is named James Sanders Horner and another grandson named James Ross Henard, a great grand son which is the son of Jason Calvin has a son names Storm Calvin Horner and lives in Green County Tennessee. Moving on, my son Dennis Calvin spent five plus years in the US Navy and served on the Aircraft Carrier, The USS Nimitz.  While at sea the Nimitz suffered a terrible plane crash and there were around fourteen causalities more than 40 injuries.  Moving forward, The Aircraft Carrier , USS Nimitz was docked in Newport News, Virginia.  Lydia and myself we privileged to board the Nimitz and visit with Dennis for a day or two in Newport News, Virginia.  Our family was deeply saddened by a tragedy that happened on November 4, 1984.  Dennis, our son was in Florida and the vehicle in which he was a passenger was hit by a drunk driver.  Dennis died either at the crash site or at the Orlando Regional Hospital.  You don’t ever want to go through this.  After Dennis passed away, this left us one son, James Edward (Jim).  At this time Jim had graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor’s degree.  While growing up on our 80 plus acre farm in Bulls Gap, TN, Jim was always working on the farm with me and he was very mechanically inclined and was a tremendous help with all the crops and livestock.  We also have spent much time on the golf course together and fishing.  After thinking back Lydia went to Nursing School and began to work in the Heath Care Field. My son-in-law (Bob Brock) has been a great blessing to our family, he is always there when we need him.  I can’t leave my daughter’s Sandra and Tammy out of this.  These ladies have turned out to be wonderful wives and mothers.  I could not ask for any better daughters than these two that I have.  They are such a blessing to me and their mother, Lydia.  Sandra was always doing the housework to help us out on the farm and Tammy followed me around, learning to drive the tractor, repair lawnmowers and mowing the yard.   

We have been blessed with a wonderful family and life! I’d like to mention “Boy’s Week.” This is an annual event when I spend with my son, grand sons, son in laws and grand son in laws. The week is set aside every year when only the boys get together for golf, fishing, nightly card games and fellowship. 2019 marked our 14th year.

Whammy, we have a great time!