Thomas D. Hornbuckle, Sr., 88, of Omega passed away Friday, September 16, 2022, at his residence. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, September 19, 2022, at Omega Baptist Church with the Rev. Matthew Glass, the Rev. Allen Mullis, and the Rev. Warren Burnham officiating. Mr. Hornbuckle will be laid to rest at Omega Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Monday, September 19, 2022, at Omega Baptist Church from 1:00 p.m. until the hour of the service.
Mr. Hornbuckle’s grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Andy Hornbuckle, Dale McGriff, Jones Ponder, Jonathon Jones, Dr. Joe Turner, and members of the Omega Baptist Church Men’s Sunday School class.
Born September 8, 1934, in Omega, Mr. Hornbuckle was the son of the late Thomas Morgan Hornbuckle and Fay Patrick Hornbuckle. He was a member of the original South Georgia Banking Company board of directors and served on the board for 50 years until the time of his death. He was the owner of Hornbuckle Wholesale Florist of Omega, Macon and Lyons. He worked tirelessly, alongside his wife, to support the floral industry and expand the family business his parents began. He was a charter member of the Georgia Commercial Flower Growers Association and served several terms as President of that organization. He also served as director of the Georgia Wholesale Florists’ Association and was elected Wholesaler of the Year for several years. He was an innovator, holding patents on several products. He was a worker until very nearly the end of his life.
His most meaningful work was his service to the Lord through Omega Baptist Church, where for years he taught Sunday School, volunteered at VBS, and sang in the choir every Sunday. He was honored as Deacon Emeritus after more than 52 years of dedicated service to the church. He was a man of faith who had a heart for the lost. He was dependable and benevolent and diligent in his work, a good and faithful servant.
Mr. Hornbuckle was survived by his wife of 67 years, Betty Green Hornbuckle of Omega; one son and daughter-in-law, Thomas D. Jr. and Georgia Hornbuckle of Omega; two daughters and sons-in-law, Elizabeth H. and John W. Gibson, Jr. of Sealy, Texas and Patty H. and Jim Dunn of Omega; one sister, Gayle H. Burnham of Augusta; and nine grandchildren and their spouses: Jason and Lucy Hornbuckle; Adam Hornbuckle; Amanda and Matt Glass; Lawsona and Jarrett Gandy; John W. III and Debbie Gibson; Conor Dunn; Thomas “Sam” Dunn and fiancé, Haley Braswell; Caroline Dunn; and Sarah D. Wolfington; and fifteen great-grandchildren.
Special thanks to Traditions Hospice of Tifton for the care they provided in his final days.