Colleen Pate Horton

Colleen Pate Horton, 80, of Kershaw, South Carolina, passed away on December 18, 2014. Born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, on June 17, 1934, she was the daughter of Rev. W.C. Pate, Sr. and Bernice Ledbetter Pate. Colleen was a graduate of Chesnee High School, Mars Hill College and Winthrop University. She married Jerry Horton on December 21, 1956, they enjoyed a wonderful fifty-eight year union, where their devotion to each other served as a wonderful example to their family. Colleen was a retired teacher, having taught thirty-two years at McDonald Green Elementary School, Mt. Pisgah High School, and North Central High School. She served as Beta Club advisor and Senior Class advisor for more than twenty years. She had a tremendous love for her students and remained in close contact with many of them throughout her life. She was a very active member of Buffalo Baptist Church, where she served as Church Organist for fifty-six years. She was also very active in the South Carolina Baptist Association and served on various boards, including Director of WMU for the Kershaw Baptist Association. She was chosen by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention to teach at Ridgecrest Baptist Assembly. Colleen served on the Board of Trustees at Connie Maxwell Children’s Home in Greenwood, South Carolina. She was also a member of the Kershaw County Salvation Army Board of Directors. She is survived by her husband, Jerry Horton, of Kershaw; daughter Sherry H. Swindler and her husband, Jackie, of Newberry; daughter Susan H. Lowder and her husband, Mitch, of Newberry; son Phil Horton and his wife Teri, of Heath Springs; son, Jeff and his wife Crystal, of Lucknow; daughter, Kim H. DuRant and her husband, Mike, of Kershaw. Grandchildren, Jackson Swindler, Joshua Swindler, Daniel Tate and his wife Brittany, Laura Beth Shealy, Chelsea H. Williams and her husband Justin, Carson Horton, Connor Horton, Payton Horton, Abigail DuRant, Sarah Grace DuRant and Jonathan Lowder; Great-Grandchildren Madison, Ella Grace, Landry and Riley. Sisters Carolyn Faulkenberry of Mooresville, NC; Kay (Rex) Mobley of Black Mountain, NC; brothers; Rev. Dr. W.C. Pate, Jr. of Black Mountain, NC, Ricky Pate (Regina) of Green Creek, NC; sister-in-law; Jean Harris of Camden; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and a sister, Patricia Pate. The family will receive friends Saturday, December 20, 2014, from 6:00-8:00, p.m. at Baker Funeral Home, Kershaw. Funeral Services will be held at Buffalo Baptist Church at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, 2014. Burial will follow in the Providence Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Buffalo Baptist Church, 6390 Lockhart Road, Kershaw, SC 29067 or Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, PO Box 1178, Greenwood, SC 29648-1178. Baker Funeral Home is serving the Horton family. www.bakerfunerals.com