Jill Renee Horner

Jill Renee Horner, age 37 of Charlotte passed away after complications of Leukemia on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at Carolinas Medical Center. She is survived by her parents Douglas and Roxanne Horner; sisters Brooke Horner and Erin and husband Shane Parrish; maternal grandmother Audrey Anderson; aunt and uncles Robert Anderson, Rhonda Anderson, Richard C. and wife Jaye Anderson, Donald and his wife Shirley Horner, Beverly Ward and Steve and his wife Molly Horner; numerous cousins and her beloved dogs Paisley, Clover and Bailey, as well as her CMC work family. Jill was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Bailey and Vera Horner; maternal grandfather Harry T. Anderson; uncle Charles Horner and beloved dog Barclee. Jill was born in Canton, SD on August 25, 1977. She was raised in Sioux Falls, SD where she graduated from Lincoln High School. Through Jill's high school years, she participated in the LHS Marching Band participating in the Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, CA in addition to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. She was heavily involved in her church youth group which included volunteering for Habitat for Humanity in Sioux Falls and building houses for the less fortunate in Mexico. During her college years, she worked as a lifeguard for Sioux Falls Parks and Recreation as well as the pool at the University of South Dakota. For two summers, her adventurous spirit led her to work as a Counselor/Swimming Instructor at Tripp Lake Camp, a girls' summer camp in Poland, Maine. After graduating from USD with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology as well as an Associates in Nursing, Jill started her professional career as a Registered Nurse in the cardiothoracic unit at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC. In the course of her career, Jill's love of travel, enabled her to touch countless lives and make many friends from Boston to San Diego and many points between. After years of travel nursing, Jill's love of North Carolina brought her to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte where she worked as the Liver Transplant Program Manager until her passing. While at CMC, Jill worked closely with numerous patients and transformed the lives of many. She was an integral part of the transplant team, serving on multiple hospital boards and committees. Jill became a Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator in 2010. She was a member of the North American Transplant Coordinator Organization, and on the planning committee for NATCO's annual meeting in 2012 and 2013. She was a liaison for the NC delegation to the Transplant Games of America in 2014. Jill was a selfless, sweet and caring person who always put people and animals first. During her down time in her cancer treatment, Jill was able to focus on her life-long passion of saving animals. She worked with several regional rescues to find loving foster and permanent homes for dogs that were scheduled to be euthanized. If she had her way, she would have saved them all. Funeral services celebrating Jill's life will be held Monday, December 15, 2014 at 5:30pm in the chapel of Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203. The family will receive friends from 4:00pm until the time of the service. Private interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to Carolinas HealthCare Foundation, specifically for Carolinas Hematology Research Fund/ Leukemia Program/ Dr. Jonathan Gerber. Donations may be mailed to: Carolinas HealthCare Foundation, Attn: Scott Kerr, 1221 E. Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28204. Online donations can be made at http://www.givecarolinas.org/find-your-cause/cancer/. Then click on "Donate to this cause"; select "Carolinas Hematology Research Fund"; then complete and submit the form (including Leukemia program or Dr. Gerber's research). Donations are tax deductible with Tax ID # 56-6060481. Arrangements are in the care of Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service; please share condolences online at www.hankinsandwhittington.com.