Alice Darlene Harris Hord

Alice Darlene Harris Hord was born to the late Cleta Ross Harris and the late Ervin H. Harris on June 5, 1941 in Terre Haute, IN. The oldest of five daughters, she was named after her mother’s beloved maternal grandmother, Alice Hathecock. She accepted Christ and was baptized at an early age at Lost Creek Baptist Church, where her paternal grandfather had served as pastor. She was initially educated in segregated schools in Lost Creek, attending School #3 before matriculating at the integrated Glenn High School in Terre Haute. A National Honor Society Student when she graduated from Glenn High School, friends from Glenn remember her as a smart, kind and popular young woman. She was a leader among her peers and well-respected. She and her sisters were raised on a farm, and had non-traditional responsibilities as girls for the care and upkeep of the property. As the eldest, her responsibilities extended to a more active role in supporting the care of her sisters. Alice played the piano well as a young girl, and was the church pianist as she grew up at Lost Creek Baptist Church. She and her four sisters sang at churches all around Terre Haute as “The Harris Sisters”, with Alice accompanying the group on the piano, wearing look-a-like dresses sewn by their mother. They were a popular feature on many a Sunday afternoon program, often having multiple engagements on a single day. Eventually, she became the organist at Second Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Rev. Noel Hord. From classical music to traditional gospel, she helped to shape the worship music from the prelude to the benediction. She studied organ at Indiana State University (ISU) in order to be a more proficient instrumentalist.

Alice was united in marriage to Dr. Frederick L. Hord, and to this union were born three children: Teresa Darlene, Frederick Mark, and Laurel Eileen. Alice was a stay-at-home mom until taking a job once 2 of her 3 were in school. Alice was the ultimate working mom, ensuring that her children were able to participate in extra-curricular activities, including sports and the arts. She was the mom who always chauffeured her kids and others who might need a ride. As her 3 eventually received their drivers’ licenses, she was generous with the use of the car. Her requirements: Don’t miss your curfew and don’t bring the tank home empty. An extra car key and gas credit card were given to help reinforce responsibility. Alice attended games, concerts, and awards ceremonies. She was just always there for her children. She sewed her and her daughters’ clothes for many years, and even dabbled in menswear by making custom suits for her son. She was a phenomenal cook, baking amazing chocolate chip cookies, which were always popular with her children’s friends. Those chocolate chip cookies were welcomed components of the care packages she regularly mailed to her children while they were in college. Her delicious homemade rolls and bread were always requested by family, and her signature “cookie cake”was a staple dessert contribution for office gatherings and holidays. A proficient typist, she prepared the weekly church bulletin at Second Baptist, supporting the ministry of her father-in-law, the Rev. Noel Hord, with whom she shared a close relationship. She was meticulous in keeping her children’s school and health records, and kept mementos of their milestones and accomplishments, items she ultimately gifted to them. Alice was a firm, even strict, mom, for which her 3 children became grateful. All would know when her children were scheduled to come home from college, and then after college, because her joy and excitement in anticipation of their being home was evident to all. She went to great lengths to ensure their favorite foods, snacks and beverages were in plentiful supply. When she became a grandmother, her world revolved around Mitchell and Isabella, in whom she delighted, and of whom she was so very proud. In true grandparent form, she indulged Mitchell and Isabella in ways that she never would have for her own children.

Alice earned an associate’s degree at ISU, then began a career in business administration, working for ISU, J.I. Case, eventually being hired at IBM. During her nearly 30 years at IBM, she earned several awards, including the prestigious IBM Means Service Award on multiple occasions, given to the top administrative employees across IBM. She always enjoyed the award conferences which took to her some of her favorite places, especially San Francisco and San Diego. With a love for travel, Alice was always game for a cruise or a trip to Hawaii. She managed local branch bookkeeping, and managed the self-guided Learning Center in Indianapolis, where she had transferred with IBM in 1979. Alice was an early adopter of home technology, and had a home personal computer long before most. For the rest of her life, she insisted on having the best computer and printer at home. Her home office was sacred space to her. After putting her 3 children through college, she was proud to ultimately complete her own bachelor’s degree at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Upon relocating to Indianapolis in 1979, Alice and her children joined Second Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), now Light of the World Christian Church, under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. T. Garrott Benjamin, Jr. (Bishop Benjamin). She attended worship, Bible study, served faithfully on the diaconate, and was the church council secretary. As a volunteer for Heaven on Earth Ministries, she oversaw the “tape ministry”, coordinating sales in the church narthex and through the mail for LWCC’s BET TV audience. After taking early retirement from IBM, she served as Bishop Benjamin’s executive assistant for more than 15 years until his retirement in 2012. She was the resident church historian, keeping an updated history and depositing important information with the Disciples of Christ Historical Society. She managed the catalog of Bishop’s sermons and tapes, seeing the value of these recordings as part of LWCC’s church history. Alice’s devotion to her church was an expression of her deep and abiding faith.

Most outside of the family did not know of Alice’s complex health history, and the health challenges she faced during the last 30 years of her life. To the end, she was insistent upon her independence and her dignity. She is now walking in full health in the presence of the Lord, where her parents, Cleta and Ervin, son-in-law Toussaint, brother-in-law, Gilbert, and nephews Steve, Marcus and Kevin have no doubt welcomed her home.

Alice leaves to cherish her memory her three children: Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens (Walter), F. Mark Hord (Leslie), and Laurel Eileen Hord Hill (Toussaint – deceased); two grandchildren: W. Mitchell Owens, III (Adriana) and Isabella Alise Hord; four sisters: Linda Harris, Katherine Johnson (Ralph), Beverly Jeanne Preston (Gilbert – deceased), and Deanna Tyler (Bertie); her beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; and a host of cousins and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 17, 2021 from 6:00-8:00pm at Flanner Buchanan-Washington Park North 2706 Kessler Blvd West Drive Indianapolis, IN 46228. A Private Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 1:00 pm at the funeral center. Burial will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery. Please share a condolence or memory of Alice at www.flannerbuchanan.com. To livestream the service on Saturday please use this link: https://www.hdezwebcast.com/show/the-celebration-of-life-service-for-alice-hord