William Lee Horton

William Lee “Bill” Horton was born in Rome, Georgia on October 11,1942, the first child of Arthur Lee and Winifred Noble Horton. Bill grew up in Tampa, Florida, where he played high school football and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. After attending Emory University, Stetson Law School, and John Marshall Law School he established a law practice in DeKalb County, Georgia, where he practiced for more than 40 years before settling in North Carolina later in his life. While he had a long and fruitful legal career, Bill’s life was defined more by public service than the law. He participated in state politics and served in the Georgia state legislature in 1973-74. In 1987, he co-founded and served as counsel for TT&W, Inc., an Atlanta social service agency dedicated to assisting uninsured patients obtain healthcare at no cost. In the community, he served as a scout master of a Boy Scout troop, was involved in local homeowners associations and never tired of using his love of horticulture to beautify the communities around him. Indeed, not only his homes, but also the entryways to the neighborhoods in which he lived were always beautifully adorned with the best of local plants, always carefully choreographed for positioning and timing of blooms and meticulously tended throughout the seasons. At his core, Bill was a teacher. Nowhere was that more evident than on the soccer field. He began coaching in 1974 when his eldest son was young and continued for nearly three decades, coaching his sons, helping lead the DeKalb Youth Soccer Association through its early years, and eventually coaching his grandchildren. Whether lining fields before a season, announcing tournament games, guiding a team to a state championship, or teaching six-year-olds their first drills, Bill found deep happiness in helping young players grow, both as athletes and as people. Of course, the place he loved most was with his family. Few images capture him better than Christmas morning: wearing his Santa hat, surrounded by grandchildren, handing out gifts beneath a tree glowing with his beloved bubble lights. For the past nine years, those moments were shared in Asheville, North Carolina, with his loving wife, Lindsay. Bill passed away peacefully in Asheville on December 13, surrounded by family. He is survived by Lindsay; his sons, Bill Jr., Bobby, and Gowan; their spouses; his nine grandchildren; and his sister, Diane Macdonald. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Bob. Bill’s kindness and devotion to family and community leave a lasting legacy. He will be greatly missed by all of us who loved him. A memorial service has not yet been scheduled, but the family expects to gather in January in Asheville, North Carolina to celebrate Bill’s life. Service details will be shared as soon as they are finalized.

Tributes

William Lee Horton

October 11, 1942 - December 13, 2025