Joe Cunningham Horton, 88, passed peacefully at his home on Tuesday, July 25th.  Memorial services will be 11:00 am Saturday, November 11, 2023 at Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church with Rev. Tom Kay officiating and Skelton Funeral Home of Reform directing.
Joe was born in Aliceville, Alabama to the late W. Amos Horton and Margaret C. Horton on March 31, 1935. He grew up in Pleasant Ridge and Aliceville, AL, attending Aliceville High School. A lifelong learner, Joe was a proud alum of Mississippi State University (class of '57) and received his MBA from the University of Georgia. He spent his career in education offering decades of leadership for the Rockdale County School System in Rockdale County, Georgia.
It was in Conyers, Georgia that Joe met the love of his life, Martha Archer Horton to whom he was married for almost 58 years. During his time in Conyers, Joe was an active parent, coaching soccer teams and strongly supporting the activities of his two children. Prior to establishing his career in education, Joe served in the Army National Guard and opened an ice cream store, the Dairy Dream, in Aliceville, AL.
After retiring from education in 1993, Joe returned to his hometown of Aliceville and enjoyed playing golf, gardening, traveling with Martha, and remained an active member of the community as a member of the Aliceville Rotary Club.
Joe was predeceased by his parents, William Amos Horton and Margaret Cunningham Horton; sister-in-law, Jeanette D. Horton, and niece, M. Virginia "Ginger" Horton Szabo-Durham.  He is survived by his wife, Martha A. Horton; son, Joseph C. "Bucky" Horton and his wife, Kara; daughter, Elizabeth H. "Lib" Rosemeyer and her husband Matt; his five grandchildren, Jackson C. Horton, William A. Horton, Charles J. "Charlie Joe" Rosemeyer, Adam M. Rosemeyer, and Cambria M. Rosemeyer. He is also survived by his brothers, William A. "Bill" Horton and his wife, Jackie, and Charles R. "Charlie" Horton and his wife, Marguerite "Rita"; his sister-in-law Susan A. Haynes, and her husband, Joseph B. "Barney" Haynes, as well as many nephews and nieces and great-nephews and great-nieces.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the American Diabetes Association, First Presbyterian Church, Aliceville, Al, or Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Pleasant Ridge, AL.