Horace Anthony Worrell was born on September 18, 1956 in Wayne County, North Carolina to the late Horace Worrell and Ruther Lee Crawford Worrell. He attended Wayne County Public Schools and was the youngest of six children. Of his family, he was the first to attend the desegregated public schools.
He graduated from Southern Wayne High School in 1974. During his high school years, he was known for his honesty and academic excellence. He graduated from Mt.
Olive Junior College (now Mt. Olive University) with an Associate Degree in pre-engineering, so he could remain at home to care for his mother after the demise of his father. His father died while he was still in high school.
After ensuring that his mom was settled and safe in a new home in the Rollingwood community in Dudley, NC, Horace completed his education at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC, where he graduated and attained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering. While matriculating at NC State, he lived with his sister, Carolyn, in Raleigh. It was during this time that he and Carolyn developed a special bond since there was a significant difference in their ages as siblings.
Following his college years, he moved to Wilmington, NC and began an engineering job with Carolina Power & Light Company (now Duke Progress Energy). Since his father had taught him so much as a “shade-tree mechanic” during his youth, Horace decided to follow his passion to become the first entrepreneur in the family. He developed and operationalized Wilmington Brake, an auto mechanic shop on Oleander Drive in Wilmington, NC for many years.
In addition, he flourished as a used car dealer with his own company, C & H Auto Sales. He always championed the true spirit of an entrepreneur with his ownership of C & H Hauling (dump trucks and log trucks) and a towing service in Garner, NC. With each of these business endeavors, he always promoted a compassion for helping others, when he perceived the need.
Horace had a deep love for family. Even though he had struggled with his health for an extended period, he would always make arrangements to show-up for family reunions, weddings, birthdays, etc. His second passion/love was for car and motorcycle racing.
As a result of this passion, he built a racing car that he actually drove and won races at local racing events. Even though Horace had a challenge with his health, he was a fighter and would never give up. More than 2 years ago, he moved to Garner, NC with his sister, Carolyn King, to ensure more continuity of his health care.
Even at this juncture of his life, he perceived the move to be temporary and it was his desire to return to his home in Wilmington, NC. Horace was affectionately known as Annieboy/Annyboy by his family. He is survived by a son, Brenton of Gastonia, NC; three sisters: Carolyn King of Garner, NC, with whom he lived over the past 2+ years; Marjorie Warren (David) of Brooklyn, NY; and Linda Deans (Ray) of Ashburn, VA; one remaining maternal aunt, Alma Williams of Goldsboro, NC; one remaining paternal aunt, Lessie Worrell of Manhattan, NY; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by two older brothers, Gerald Worrell (Lettie) and James Worrell. He departed this life on September 16, 2018, two days prior to his birthday.
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