CONWAY – On November 13, 2013, while a resident at the Creekside Nursing Facility in Ahoskie, North Carolina, Grace Leigh Horne Woodard began her journey to her Creator.

The passing of this 88-year-old female marks the end of an entire branch of American history in regard to Native Americans. The branch she descended from was composed of a Tuscororan father and a Cherokee mother. Together, their children totaling eleven are now all deceased.

Grace and her siblings in chronological order were as follows: Wade Hampton Horn(e), Roscoe “Bill” Horn(e), Beauford (Buford) Lee Horn(e), Lula Mae Horn(e) Flythe, John Henry Horn(e), Margaret Ethel Horn(e) Britt, Gracie Leigh Horn(e) Woodard, Howard Nash Horn(e), Lem Otis Horn(e), Franklin Alfred Horn(e), Richard Loyd Horn(e).  These children were born to James Henry Horn(e) and Laura Mayes (Maes). James Henry came from Bennettsville, S.C. and Laura Mayes was from Robeson County, Lumberton. Minister Chavis officiated their union.

Both James Henry and Laura died within months of each other and the entire family was ripped apart. Older children made ways for themselves with jobs, but the later six were reared in Milwaukee, North Carolina. As many Native Americans were registered on the census, their origin or race was determined by the color of the “paper bag” test.  If light enough, were deemed white, if not, were deemed “M” for mulatto. Hence, one reason that so many persons of Native descent did not mention their heritage.

Gracie, known as Grace, married Aubrey Otis Woodard, Jr. in year 1940 in Emporia, Virginia. To this union was born four children, Aubrey Woodard III, Lynn Carol Woodard Johnson, Joseph Scott Woodard and Lisa Gaye Woodard.  Aubrey and wife, Diane, live in Brevard, NC; Lynn and husband, Don, reside in Murfreesboro, NC; Joseph and wife, Barbara, reside in Conway, NC; with Lisa living in Raleigh, NC.

A private service will be held by the immediate family but a celebration visit was held at Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc. in Conway, N.C. on Sunday Nov. 17, 2013.  In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Conway Baptist Church for their Benevolence Fund and contact L.G. Britt for further information.

The family hopes that this history will assist any who are seeking information about their heritage and their genealogy of ancestry.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.bridgersfuneralhome.com.