"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints"- Psalms 116:15

Hortense Elnora (Smith) Colmore was born on April 28, 1919, to the late Clara Smith and Skinny Tucker in Dry Branch (Kanawha County), West Virginia.

Hortense departed this life on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, peacefully in her home. Hortense was preceded in death by her beloved husband, George E. Colmore, Sr. and her son, George E. Colmore, Jr.

She was raised by the late Herman and Fannie Jones in Kanawha County, West Virginia, along with the love of her step-brothers and sisters. She received her early education in Dry Branch, West Virginia and later received formal training as a Practical nurse in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Hortense served as a private in-home nurse and a devoted caretaker to many families and individuals in the Lynchburg, VA Community. The care that she exhibited to others was evident by the exceptional home care she herself received which contributed to her long life during later years by loving family members and devoted caregivers.

In the late 1930s, she married the late George Edward Colmore, Sr. while in Lynchburg, VA where they began their lives and were blessed with four beautiful children, Alice, Georgia, George and Clara Lea. In addition to her four beautiful children, she took great pleasure in helping her daughter, Alice, raise her grandson, Christopher Colmore. She also nurtured and raised several adoptive children during her lifetime to become loving and caring adults.

Hortense received Christ at an early age, and after moving to Lynchburg, VA, she joined the Marshall Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church where she served as a trustee. She enjoyed playing the piano and singing with the Spiritual Wonders gospel quartet. Hortense enjoyed spending time with family and friends that included making homemade spirits, sing-along hymns with George playing the guitar, passing on her love of gardening to her children, caring for the neighborhood cats/kittens, tending to her goldfish, raising chickens, and admiring her favorite bird, the Red Cardinal, visiting backyard birdfeeders.

Hortense was an early pioneer in breaking the color barrier for African-Americans and women within the City of Lynchburg, VA. She was one of several African-Americans to be hired to serve as school bus drivers for the Lynchburg Public School System. She was also a businesswoman, owning several homes and tenant properties, providing affordable housing for many single mothers and families.

Hortense enjoyed teaching her children and grandchildren the importance of hard work, doing what brings you joy, her zeal for learning and encouraging the pursuit of higher education. She was very good at math that included challenging them to explore finding numbers in the daily newspaper, soliciting their help to solve addition and multiplication math problems. She also claimed to have six fingers instead of five which she professed bought her luck and blessings.

Hortense had a very playful and cheerful nature. She was known on occasion when greeting family to give them a "sweet fanny pat, side thigh pat or pat on the shoulder/back' as her way of saying "I love you" or It's good to see you." She would often inquire of someone to tell her, "What you know good?" which meant "how are you doing" or "tell her something good or interesting."

Hortense leaves to cherish her life and memory her three children, daughters, Alice Colmore Hayes of Suitland, Maryland, Georgia Colmore Randolph of Lynchburg, Virginia and Clara Lea Colmore King (Leroy) of Norfolk, Virginia; nine grandchildren, Vincent, Cynthia, Edward, Kenneth, Christopher, Valarie, Bridget, Lorraina and Claryce; fifteen great-grandchildren, Chasity, Christopher, Devon, Chad, Maria, Jermaine, Andrew, Keisha, Tina, Christopher, Jr., Brittany, Kendall, Raven, David and Derrell; a host of great-great grandchildren, other relatives, extended family and friends.

A homegoing celebration will be held 2PM Saturday, January 29, 2022, at Davis-Turner Funeral Service. The family will receive friends from 5-6PM Friday, January 28, 2022, at Davis-Turner Funeral Service. Interment will be at Springhill Cemetery. Service of comfort rendered by Davis-Turner Funeral Service.