Alice Cleo Haynes Horner was born in New Haven, CT on April 21, 1925, to Jane and Hubert Haynes. She was very close to her three sisters (Mary, Edna, and Ethel) and one brother (William). After graduating from Hillhouse High School and briefly attending Stone College, she was mailed an engagement ring from Alfred Lee Horner (during his service in the military) and upon his return the two wedded in 1946. They raised their family in New Haven, CT and in their later years settled in Hamden, CT where she departed life on their 75th wedding anniversary, September 27, 2021.

Alice was one of the original members of the mother and daughter Hobnob social club founded in New Haven, CT. Her first place of employment was at The Block Shop, which was an exclusive toy store on Wall Street in New Haven until the store went out of business. She was employed by Gilbert & Richards (a machine tool distributor) as an Office Clerk, and later promoted to Office Manager where she worked for 40 years until retirement in 2002. Gilbert & Richards later went out of business shortly after her retirement in December 2002.

Alice, affectionately known as “Grandma” and “Gigi”, cherished spending time with her family. For years she proudly followed her grandson Jeremy nationally and internationally as he pursued his hockey career amongst other sports. Gigi also enjoyed traveling to the Caribbean Islands, playing bingo (she actually won), jigsaw and word search puzzles, music, bus trips and occasionally going to the casino. She loved watching game shows, every evening at 7pm sharp the jingle from Jeopardy loomed through the house. She was an avid sports enthusiast, having knowledge about all sports in most divisions high school, college, and professional and above all she was a proud Notre Dame & Dallas Cowboys fan. After retirement she could have worked as a consultant for ESPN because she knew it all!

In 1936 Alice joined the Dixwell Avenue United Church of Christ (originally known as Dixwell Avenue Congregational Church) at age 11. She was officially recognized as a Lifetime Member with 85 years of membership. Alice was inducted into the Pillars of Wisdom, which is recognized as historic legacy of the church. She faithfully served on the Usher Board and opened the door with warmth and a smile to welcome members and visitors until the pandemic interrupted in-person services. Alice loved attending Sunday service and socializing with her church family afterwards.

Over the course of her 96 years of life she survived The Great Depression, witnessed the Civil Rights movement, she later saw Deacon John Daniels of Dixwell UCC become the first Black Mayor of New Haven and attended his inauguration. She participated in the election of President Barack Obama, which brought her to tears because she never thought she would see the day that there would be a Black President in the United States of America, and she survived the height of the pandemic.

She leaves to mourn her memory her daughter Darlene Ann Horner Castillo (Juan), her son Ronald Lee Horner (late Wanda), grandchildren Liza Anderson (Burton), Kimberly Blackman (Keith), Jeremy Horner (Jennifer), Dalene Burden (Doc), great-grandchildren Ian Draper (Tineka), Celine Draper, Chelsea Austin, Jaxson & Julian Horner, Liam & Landon Rose and George Eleazer, great-great-grandchildren Mika, Lyden, Aleida-Lee, Vera-Adeline, Ophelia-Rae, Khaliq and sister Ethel Haynes Ralls as well as a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband Alfred Lee Horner, two sisters Mary Bell and Edna Brown, brother William Haynes, daughters-in-law Luz Aleida Horner and Wanda Horner.

A Celebration of Mrs. Horner’s life and legacy will be held Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at 11:00 A.M. at Dixwell Avenue United Church of Christ, 217 Dixwell Ave., New Haven. The viewing will be held at the church from 10:00-11:00 A.M. The burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Dixwell Avenue Congregational United Church of Christ, 217 Dixwell Ave., New Haven, CT 06511.