George Edward Collins, 80, of Fernandina Beach, passed away Thursday, April 20, 2017.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Sara Jane Hammen, 68, of Fernandina Beach, passed away Wednesday, April 19, 2017.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

William Scott Newton, 61, of Yulee, passed away peacefully Saturday, April 24, 2017, in the care of the Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring, Fernandina Beach.

Eternity Funeral Homes & Cremations – Nassau

Marion M. Smith, 95, of Fernandina Beach, passed away Sunday, April 23, 2017.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Donna Kay Zenker, 65, of Ocala and formerly of Amelia Island, passed away Wednesday, April 19, 2017. Local services will be announced soon.

Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery

William J. Odom (Bill) passed away Saturday, April 15, 2017. He was 82, just three days shy of his 83rd birthday. He passed away peacefully in his sleep while in Kirkwood Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in New Braunfels, Texas.

Bill (or Billy Joe to those who knew him in his early years) grew up in Hazlehurst, Ga., and Fernandina Beach. After graduating from high school, he joined the Air Force and served for 23 years throughout the world before his retirement. During his military service, he met his wife, Kira, and had two children, Bill Jr. and Doug.

Bill continued his education while serving in the Air Force and completed his master’s degree in education. After retirement from the military, he transitioned into the public school system and served more than 20 years as a teacher, counselor, principal and special-education administrator. He also faithfully attended and served in churches throughout his life, and God is now welcoming him home.

He dedicated his life to the service of others: God, his family, his country and the thousands of students he impacted in public education. His passing is both a cause for sadness for those who loved him and a time to celebrate a life well lived.

He will be buried beside his wife, Kira, in a military ceremony at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

He is survived by two children and five grandchildren, six of whom live in the San Antonio area, and one lives in Africa.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart Association.

Kenneth Elmer Rowe passed away peacefully Thursday, March 16, 2017, with his family by his side. Kenneth was certain in the resurrection and always put his Creator and family first in his life.

He was born April 29, 1932. He married his wife of 63 years, Carolyn Grace Rowe, when he was only 21 years old, in Detroit, where he worked as a union electrician in Local 58. He took time off for a year in 1968 to take himself and his family to serve where the need was greater to preach as a Jehovah's Witness in Spain while it was under ban. A Volkswagen pop-up camper was used on frequent trips to other parts of Europe, and Mom and Dad would be in the camper with all five kids, stopping wherever the road took us. Kenneth then later sold his house and, with the proceeds, spent four more years in Spain in the preaching work. When finished, he took some of his remaining money and purchased some sports cars (which, being from Detroit, he was a sports car enthusiast) and brought those back to the U.S. to sell. He then complained that his sons ate his cars. He was the best father a person could have and will be sorely missed by his entire family and many friends.

He is survived by Carolyn, his wife; Jonathan Michael Rowe, James Mark Rowe, Jason Nathaniel Rowe, Eric Wesserling, Denise Hurtado and their families, which includes many grandchildren; and his brothers, Richard and Dave and their families, with grand-nephews and grand-nieces.

A service will be held at The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses at 942471 Old Nassauville Road, Yulee, at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 29, with a reception to follow at the American Beach Community Center in Fernandina Beach.

Victoria Amanda “Mandy” Stoffa, 73, of Fernandina Beach, passed away Saturday morning, April 22, 2017, with her family by her side.

Born in Madison, Fla., she was the eldest of two daughters born to the late Dr. Earnest Thomas Kinsey, M.D., and Victoria Pepera Kinsey. She completed her associate degree at North Florida Junior College and earned her Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts from Florida State University. Upon obtaining her degrees, Mandy taught art in public schools and community colleges. Later, as an art supervisor in Colorado Springs, Colo., she was selected as Art Administrator/Supervisor of the Year for the state of Colorado.

Mandy possessed many talents. Among these were poet, artist, writer and musician. While she attended North Florida Junior College, her poetry was published in the school newspaper. When she was a student at Florida State University, her marble sculpture was placed in the Student Honors show. While she resided in Arkansas, her ceramic sculpture, “The Three Pharaohs,” was purchased by Mrs. Winthrop Rockefeller, a noted art collector.

Mandy was a former member of the Island Art Association and received several awards for work she entered in various shows. Recently, her interest turned to writing, and she wrote, illustrated and published several children’s books. Her musical accomplishments included participation in the Atlanta Marching Abominables Band and the Nassau Community Band, where she played the flute. She was an avid animal lover and supporter of the Nassau Humane Society.

One of Mandy’s passions was traveling, and she was fortunate to visit many states and European countries. She loved experiencing the culture, music and people she encountered in her travels.

Mandy leaves behind her beloved husband, Kenneth; her beloved sister, Rose Marie Kinsey Patrick (Stanley); brother-in-law, Vincent Stoffa (Colleen); sister-in-law, Denise Stoffa Welsh (Mike); cousins, Iris Pepera Ward, Jackie Pepera Johnson (Kin), Joyce Littleton and Helen Littleton (Tish); two nephews; and a niece.

She and her husband have been active members of St. Michael Catholic Church in Fernandina Beach.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 28, at St. Michael Catholic Church in Fernandina Beach, with the Rev. Father Jose Kallukalam, celebrant.

Her family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 27, in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard, where the Vigil service for the deceased will be held at 6 p.m., with Deacon Art Treadwell officiating.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 29, as she is laid to rest in the Pepera-Littleton family section of Oak Ridge Cemetery, Madison.

Please share her Life Story and leave your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

John R. Fletcher Jr., 69, of Fernandina Beach, passed away Thursday, April 13, 2017. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 29, in the Burgess Chapel. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the hour of service at Oxley-Heard.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Rita Grossman, 92, of Amelia Island, passed away peacefully at Osprey Retreat on Wednesday, April 26, 2017.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Victoria Amanda “Mandy” Stoffa, of Fernandina Beach, passed away Saturday, April 22, 2017. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 28, at St. Michael Catholic Church in Fernandina Beach. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday April 29, as she is laid to rest in the Pepera-Littleton family section of Oak Ridge Cemetery, Madison, Fla.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Mr. George Edward “Ed” Collins Jr., 80, of Yulee, passed away Thursday morning, April 20, 2017, at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach.

Born in Fort White, Fla., he was the eldest of three children born to the late George Edward and Winnie Moreland Collins Sr. He grew up in Fort White, where he was a graduate of Fort White High School, Class of 1954. After high school, he studied for two years at the University of Florida.

In 1959, Mr. Collins met Mary Ann Panke of Fernandina Beach, who would become his wife in 1960. Mr. Collins accepted a position with the Florida Park Service as a park ranger at Oleno State Park. Within a few years, the needs of a young family would require a move to Jacksonville, as Mr. Collins accepted a position as a chemical operator with Glidco Chemical, which was located in the Brentwood and Norwood sections of North Jacksonville. He remained with Glidco until retiring in 2000. While working and raising their children; Mr. and Mrs. Collins remained involved with their love, the Florida Park Service. They were avid campers and recreational vehicle enthusiasts in addition to his work as park ranger, assistant superintendent and superintendent at Oleno, Fort Clinch, Suwannee River and Gold Head state parks. The Collins family moved to Yulee in 1973. After retiring, he and his wife joined the Army Corps of Engineers and traveled and lived in their motor home at various locations in Florida, Georgia and Alabama before being invited to Forest Service land “between the lakes” on the Tennessee-Kentucky border, where they remained for eight years.

As a University of Florida alumnus, he remained true to the Florida Gators athletic programs. Mr. Collins became a Master Mason at Cherry Hill Lodge No. 25, Fort White; was a member of Amelia Lodge No. 47, F&AM, Fernandina Beach; the Scottish Rite Bodies; the Morocco Shrine Temple, Jacksonville; the Fernandina Beach Shrine Club; and one of the original members of the Fernandina Beach Rough Riders. For many years, he and his wife and several other couples provided transportation to Tampa for the Fernandina Beach Rainbow Girls to the annual Grand Assembly. He and his wife were members of Yulee United Methodist Church, where they were volunteers in the Food Pantry.

Mr. Collins enjoyed woodworking and being around, involved with and helping other people. He was happiest when he was engaged in simple conversation with a fellow camper, diagnosing a cantankerous generator problem on a fellow camper’s RV, bringing a smile to the face of a child through his antics as a Rough Rider or observing the emotional relief of someone being helped through his church’s outreach ministry.

Mr. Collins leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Mary Ann Panke Collins of Yulee; their two children, Michele Collins Haga of Yulee, and Michael Edward Collins and his wife, Susan, of Littleton, N.H.; a sister, Annie Laura Porter, and a brother, Steven Collins, both of Fort White; grandchildren, Sean and Caleb Taylor, and Trevor and Madison Collins; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon, April 26, at Yulee United Methodist Church, with Pastor Charlie Sward and the Rev. John Gallman officiating.

Masonic honors were accorded by Amelia Lodge No. 47 of Fernandina Beach.

Serving as honorary pallbearers were his fellow Masons, members of the Fernandina Beach Shrine Club, the Fernandina Beach Rough Riders, the Yulee Stitching Sisters and volunteers of the Yulee United Methodist Food Pantry.

His family received friends following the service at a reception in the church fellowship hall.

If so desired, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the Yulee United Methodist Food Pantry, P.O. Box 127, Yulee, FL 32041.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Mr. Virgil C. Davis, 90, of Fernandina Beach, passed away Tuesday afternoon, April 25, 2017, at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach.

Virgil was born in Hilliard to Hampton Avner Davis and Leah Ellen Conner. Due to the untimely death of his parents, as a teenager, he moved to Jacksonville to live with an older sister. In 1950, he married Hilliard native Stella Mae Tomlinson. The newlyweds initially lived in a rooming house on Atlantic Avenue. They then moved into a more private home on North 14^th Street before moving to their present home site in 1956. In 1951, Mr. Davis began a long career with Container Corporation of America, where he retired in 1986 as a shift supervisor. Throughout his married life, he loved gardening, especially tending the field with his John Deere tractor. For many years, he and his wife enjoyed times at his lake lot on Lake Delancy in the Ocala National Forest. He also enjoyed traveling to the mountains, especially in the fall. He loved walking the trails and seeing the waterfalls. After retiring, Mr. Davis enjoyed his hobby of collecting, restoring and showing vintage automobiles. His love of antique cars led to his long affiliation and membership with the Amelia Cruisers. In recent times, he loved watching the birds in his lovely backyard from his back porch rocker. He also enjoyed his beloved cat, Whiskers, who brought him much joy. Above all, he cherished his wife and his times with her.

He now resides in heaven, surrounded by his loved ones who went before him, all the glory of nature he loved, and in the arms of God, who blessed him here on Earth. He was loved and will be missed very much.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings, Lillian, Rena, Mabel, Deborah, Hillary, Arthur and Zelton.

Mr. Davis leaves behind his wife of almost 67 years, Stella Tomlinson Davis; their children, Troy Davis and his wife, Gayle, Larry Davis and his wife, Debbie, and Linda Davis Powell and her husband, Andreu, all of Fernandina Beach; his last remaining sibling, a brother, Roy Davis of Callahan; five grandchildren, Christopher Davis (Melissa), Brian Davis, Dana Severidt (Nick), Matthew Davis (Sarah) and Kyle Davis; six great-grandchildren, Katelyn, Gehrig, Ethan, Madison, Walker and Ansley; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29, in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard, with Pastor Rob Goyette officiating.

Mr. Davis will be laid to rest in Bosque Bello Cemetery.

His family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 28, at Oxley-Heard.

Please share his Life Story and leave your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Born Oct. 15, 1942, in Jacksonville Beach, to the late Lucy and Jeff McIntosh, Glenda Rose McIntosh left this Earth on Sunday, April 23, 2017, after a brief illness. She was a spry 74 years young despite battling dementia for the last 3.5 years.

During her life, her professions ranged from telephone operator with Southern Bell (now AT&T) from 1960 through 1973, volunteer with the Hospital Auxiliary at Charlton Memorial Hospital, homeroom mom during various grades of her daughter’s school years (much to her daughter’s chagrin, at times), band mom (again, much to her daughter’s chagrin), funeral home secretary, caterer, queen of gingerbread houses in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, and an excellent cook. She graduated in 1960 from Hilliard High School, where her fellow classmates voted her Friendliest and Most Dramatic. Glenda also proudly became a Girl Scout at the age of 40, which really is a grand accomplishment considering she beat breast cancer just a few years prior. She spent most of her life in Hilliard, but most recently lived in Yulee.

Glenda had a zest for life that can only be expressed by the colorfulness in her personality. She was full of humor, loved to laugh and loved to make others laugh. Her favorite pastime was to dress up in outlandish outfits and go to family reunions uninvited. Other families’ reunions. Mind you, they were family friends, but you get the idea. Nothing like just showing up dressed like a stranger at an event you aren’t supposed to be at to see what kind of reaction you will get. That was Glenda. Or, better yet, putting on the makeup thicker than Tammy Faye ever could, stuffing her bra with Kleenex and answering the door when her teenage daughter’s date arrived. (Now you understand the chagrin!) When she wasn’t dressing up, she loved to cook and bake and share the goodies with neighbors and her daughter’s classmates. Glenda had a generous heart and a gracious smile. Once you met her, she was hard to forget. Despite the silliness, down deep, Glenda harbored a serious love for God and Jesus Christ. Inside her Bibles are pages and pages filled with handwritten notes of Scripture and prayers for others.

Glenda is survived by her daughter, Lucy Kwapnioski-Nadeau (Greg Peistrup, partner) of Yulee; a sister, Melba Powers (the late Ralph) of Hilliard; brothers, Grady McIntosh (Nancy) of Hilliard, Leo McIntosh of Jacksonville, and Tommy McIntosh of Lutz, Fla.; ex-husband, Gene Kwapnioski; and several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews, aunts, cousins and dear friends, as well as her cats, Daisy, Blossom, Cheyenne and Lola. She was sure to have met her faithful companion Champagne and her cat Goldie at the Rainbow Bridge on her way into heaven.

Memorialization will take place by cremation. A visitation with the family will take place from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, April 28, with memorial services scheduled for 2 p.m. at Shepard Roberson Funeral Home, 526 Oakwood St., Folkston, Ga.

Donations in memory of Glenda may be made to River City Community Animal Hospital, P.O. Box 551344, Jacksonville, FL 32255.

Shepard Roberson Funeral Home, Folkston, Ga.

James Ellis Powers, 84, father of his four adored children – Martha, James, Katherine (died 1976) and John (died 2007) – died at home, as he wished, on Monday, April 24, 2017.

Jim was preceded in death by his first wife of 30 years, the former Joan Bender.

Jim, a former executive with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, was “hooked” on the space program from the evening he heard the honored rocket scientist Wernher von Braun give a presentation in Macon, Ga., Jim’s hometown.

Once Jim completed his military obligation, and as a direct result of the von Braun presentation, he joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, the predecessor of NASA.

One of the highlights of Jim’s early career – as a young man in his mid-20s – was the times he was invited to sit at the table when von Braun was conducting his weekly staff meetings at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

Jim started his career as an engineer on the NACA Scout Program, and went on to executive roles during NASA’s Apollo, Gemini, Mercury, Skylab and space station programs. Over the years, he remained awed by what the NASA team was able to accomplish at the cutting edge of science. And “we were all were so very young”  at the time.

The stories Jim most told about his career years always started out with words about a specific project he had worked on, but soon morphed into stories about his project co-workers. “Because people do things. Things don’t do things.” Many of his stories were also connected to education. Or golf. Or both.

The highlight of Jim’s education was the year he spent at Stanford as a National Institute of Public Affairs Fellow. When he was 35.

He served as vice chairman of the school board in Friendswood, Texas, at the time the board debated whether or not to permit dancing in the high school gym.  There were many pros and cons. “Mostly cons.”  The school voted yes. “Under my direction,” he always added, with a little grin.

One of Jim’s assignments at NASA involved Anita and Arabella, the spiders who went into space aboard the Skylab 3 mission as a student experiment. As Jim always told the story, he was walking up to the 10th hole, playing the best round of his single-digit golfing years, when the pro drove up in his cart to tell him, “We’ve got to get you back to a telephone. Headquarters is calling. Arabella died. They want to know what to do now.” Actually, both spiders died in space, but only one when Jim was headed toward the 10th tee.

Locally, Jim served on the Golf Course Advisory Committee and on the Golf Course Selection Committee. He was passionate about the need for an outside management company to operate our municipal course and spent an untoward number of hours dedicated to that effort.

In 1986, Jim was joined in marriage to his treasured Deborah, and gained three additional children to love – Dave, John and Megan Lavery.

Jim and Deborah now have 13 cherished grandchildren: Mary Katherine, Jocelyn and Julianne Powers; Ian, James and Nathan Powers; Sean, Daniel and Megan Lavery; Aurora and Joseph Lavery; and Alexander and Dylan Gelderman.

The sons and daughters-in-law who brought Jim conversations about their worlds, along with special artistic gifts, fun, joy and warmth include: Renaud Lozano, Monica Powers, Emily Powers, Stacey McClain, Shannon Lavery, Mary Braun, Richard Gelderman and Carol Lavery.

Jim was extremely ill during the last few weeks of his life, but rallied for two of his favorite days of the year. Saturday and Sunday of the Masters Golf Tournament. Seeing Sergio win was an added, long hoped for, bonus.

Dearest to Jim’s heart were his family, job, golf, house swapping in Europe with Deborah and family/close friends, roses, cruises and travels with Deb and more friends, news blaring forth 24/7, researching by the hour – first in libraries and then via the internet – and Theresa Poynter’s Key lime pie.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, June 19, in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard. His family will welcome friends at a celebration of Jim’s life at Cafe Karibo following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jim’s name to any of the following: the U.S. Space Camp General Scholarship Fund (www.rocketcenter.com/scholarshipfund), the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (www.bcan.org) or the Friends of the Fernandina Beach Library (www.fernandinafol.org under “join us” menu).

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Robert “George” Van Dam passed away Monday, April 17, 2017, at his Fernandina Beach home.

Robert was born in Jersey City, N.J., to Leonardus and Helen (Young) Van Dam. Robert served in the U.S. Army and was a Vietnam veteran. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, lottery scratch-off tickets and making his wife laugh.

He is survived by his wife, Roberta; daughter, Kristina Van Dam and grandson Noah; son, Robert Van Dam; daughter-in-law, Lisa Van Dam and granddaughter Ashleigh; sisters, Margaret and Ria; brothers, Lenny, Arnold, Anthony and Joseph; and several nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Thomas; his sister, Mickey; and his best friend, George Blackmon.

Services will be private.

Please share his Life Story and leave your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Brandon Tyler Adams, 23, passed away in Norman, Okla., on Monday, April 24, 2017. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, May 12, at Celebration Baptist Church, 85520 Miner Road, Yulee.

Tribute Memorial Care, Norman, Okla.

Seward Broussard, 62, of Fernandina Beach, passed away Sunday, April 30, 2017.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Mr. Roy Delbert Ennis, 76, beloved husband of Glenda Ennis of Fernandina Beach, passed away Tuesday morning, May 2, 2017, at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

James Peeples, of Fernandina Beach, passed away Saturday, April 29, 2017.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

James P. Callahan passed away with wife Lois by his side Thursday, April 27, 2017, after a short illness, just short of his 90^th birthday. He was born in Mohall, N.D., to Marguerite and Arthur Callahan on June 1, 1927.

After graduation from Washington High School in Sioux Falls, S.D., he joined the Navy in 1946 and was in China on his 19^th birthday. After his discharge from the Navy, he attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of South Dakota. The majority of his career was with Kimberly-Clark as director of sales for fine papers.

Jim was a friendly, happy, outgoing person who many times was the life of the party, telling stories and jokes. He loved to work the odds for party bettors at Kentucky Derby and Super Bowl parties.

Travel was a big part of Lois and Jim’s life. Their last trip was a 30-day cruise around Africa and Asia. Jim is now on the best journey of his life.

Survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Lois. Jim and Lois had four children and six grandchildren, Elizabeth (Stuart) Schnabolk, Alyson (Brad) Alexander, James C. Callahan Jr., Gwendolyn S. Widicus, Claire G. Widicus and Emily L. Faulhaber; and one great-grandson, Weston James Schnabolk.

Funeral Mass for Mr. Callahan will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 4, St. Michael Catholic Church, 505 Broome St., Fernandina Beach, with a reception following to celebrate Jim’s life at Osprey Village in the formal dining room.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jim’s name to Barnabas at http://barnabasnassau.org/donate or Barnabas Center Inc., 1303 Jasmine St., Suite 101, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034; 261-7000.

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Jimmy L. Coger, 87, of Fernandina Beach, passed away Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at Quality Health in Fernandina Beach. A native of Evening Shade, Ark., he was the son of the late Marcel Samuel Coger and Betti Lou (Elliott) Coger.

He spent his early years and attended school in Evening Shade. Following school, he joined the United States Army and spent 26½ years in service to our country, serving in Korea and in the Vietnam War. Maj. Coger was a member of the Adjutant General Corps. In 1952, while serving his country, he married the former Betty (Elizabeth Anne) McAlerney of Seattle. He retired from active service on Fort Benning, Ga., on May 31, 1974. They retired to Lillian, Ala., on beautiful Perdido Bay, where he enjoyed fishing and hunting.

Maj. Coger was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; and leaves behind six children, Kathleen C. and David Hardee of Fernandina Beach, Patricia and David Edenfield of Lynden, Wash., Michael and Laura Coger of Reno, Nev., Robert and Mike (Johnson) Coger of Pensacola, Thomas and Lori Coger of Summerville, S.C., and Joan and Steve Thrift of Yulee. He also leaves behind 17 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, May 9, with services following at 11 a.m. the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard, with Chaplain Jim Tippins and Dr. Wain Wesberry officiating. U.S. Army military honors will be rendered following the service.

Memorials may be made in his memory to Community Hospice & Palliative Care, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Casey Earl Lewis, 23, of Hilliard, passed away Sunday, April 30, 2017, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

He was a Plank Owner member of the Nassau Chapter of the Blank Check Society. He was a lifelong timber harvester, beginning with Earl Lewis Timber and Farm, then with S&S Timber Co. of Lawtey, Fla., and continuing with the late Hunter Starling, David Starling, Austin Waters and B.C. Lewis. He was the startup co-owner of DC Wood Production with Dusty Pate in Hilliard. He was an avid woodsman, fisherman, hunter, musician, entertainer, biker, cattleman and farmer. He was a descendant of the original families of Kings Ferry. He was dedicated with a passion to his family, friends and loved ones. He was a member of Ephesus Baptist Church.

He is survived by his fiancée, Summer Haddock; his children, Nathan Michael Lewis and Teaghen Lewis; his parents, Sunshine (Brian) Valler and Eric (Tracie) Lewis; his grandmothers, Karen Waters Hodges and Sara (Jerry) Dixon; his grandfather, Raymond Earl Lewis; his sisters, Erica (Nadal) Lewis and Megan Matthews; his half-sister, Briana Valler; half-brother, Matthew Valler; his stepchildren, Lantz, Savana, Madeline and Khloe; two nephews, Raiden and Brantley; his stepgrandparents, Gary and Maureen Valler; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Jesse Michael (Pa) Hodges.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 5, at Shepard-Roberson Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Buford Grove Baptist Church, with Dr. Marvin Lee officiating. Burial will follow in Kings Ferry Cemetery.

In lieu “Lew” of flowers (which Casey would run over with his skidder anyway), make donations to Southeastern Bank in Hilliard for his children, Nathan and Teaghen.

Condolences may be expressed by signing the guest registry at www.shepardfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shepard-Roberson Funeral Home in Folkston, Ga.

Shepard-Roberson Funeral Home, Folkston, Ga.

Audrey Miner Wall, 61, of Yulee, passed away at her home on Saturday, April 29, 2017.

Born in Fernandina Beach, she was the daughter of Louis Fredrick Miner and the late Jean Yvonne Johnson Miner Graham. Audrey grew up in Nassau County and attended St. Michael Academy and Fernandina Beach High School. After high school, she married John Wilbur Wall. Audrey and Wilbur lived in Fernandina Beach, where they raised their three children, Tabatha, Heather and Joshua. Audrey enjoyed raising chickens, caring for all animals, collecting yard sale finds, taking care of her Dad and tending to her pet turkeys, “Thanksgiving” and “Christmas.”

She had previously attended St. Michael Catholic Church in Fernandina Beach, and for the past 10-12 years, she attended Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church in Callahan.

Audrey was preceded in death by her mother; two brothers, Steven and Michael Miner; as well as her son, Joshua “Josh” Wall.

She leaves behind her daughters, Tabatha Gilyard and her husband, Terence, of Orlando, and Heather Kirtsey and her husband, Alvin, of Fernandina Beach; her young daughter, Erica Miner of Yulee; her father, Louis Miner of Yulee; two brothers, David Miner of Yulee, and Mark Miner and his wife, Karen, of Woodbine, Ga.; a sister, Faye Driver and her husband, Earl, of Jacksonville; grandchildren, Emily, Mason, Whitney, Courtney, Michael, Cameron, Bailey, Riley and Genevieve; a great-grandson, K.J.; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 3, in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard, with Pastor Chris Oglesby officiating.

Audrey will be laid to rest beside her son in Hughes Cemetery.

Her family received friends Tuesday, May 2, at Oxley-Heard.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

The teacher who walks in the shadow of the temple, among his followers, gives not of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of his own mind. - By Kahlil Gibran

Rychard S. Cook II, called home by our Lord on July 19, 2016, was the youngest of three siblings. His life was shared by older sisters who preceded him in death: Dr. Nettie Cook- Dove (Joshua Jr.) and Laura Lee Cook. The three were reared by his mother's oldest sister, the late Ms. Annie M. Cook, an elementary school teacher and strict disciplinarian to whom good manners were imperative.

A native Fernandinian, Rychard grew up in the Sunday School of First Missionary Baptist church and received his early secular education at Peck High School, where as a student he entered and won a song writing contest that gave Peck High its Alma Mater. In 1951, along with his classmate Mrs. Vernita Johnson Holmes, he graduated as Co-Valedictorian. He received a four year scholarship from the state of Florida and attended Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida. In 1955, he was awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, and in 1963, he earned a Master of Arts degree in School Librarianship at the University of Denver in Colorado.

Mr. Cook’s stellar career in the educational field was inspired by three outstanding individuals, all now deceased: Mrs. Mamie T. Jordan (music), Mrs. Edythe J. Thurston (communication skills), and Mrs. Dorothy Sanford Love (librarian extraordinaire). For his life’s work, Rychard chose librarianship as a profession and music as his avocation.

Mr. Cook began his teaching career in Nassau County at Peck High School as a substitute teacher. After two weeks, he became a full time teacher at Milner-Rosen Wald Academy in Mt. Dora, Florida. As a Miami-Dade County public school employee, Mr. Cook has taught at West Homestead Elementary-Junior High School, Dunbar Elementary, Miami Northwestern Senior High, Coral Park Senior High, Miami Jackson High, Horace Mann Middle, Holmes and Westview elementary schools. Mr. Cook retired from Westview Elementary as a Media Specialist on June 18, 1999, after spending 42 years of dedicated service in Florida's public schools. An avid reader, Mr. Cook spent hours reading mystery novels and researching African-American history and culture. He was a devoted Toni Morrison fan. He encouraged many African Americans to learn more about their roots, during his serious study of Black History. In 1967, he founded the Afro-Americans, a readers’ theatre group that included his childhood friend Dessie Horne Williams, and which promoted the study of Black History and Culture through its prose, poetry, and song.

Mr. Cook was a life member of the Zora Neale Hurston Society, and was affiliated with the Black Archives, History and Research Foundation of South Florida, The Theodore R. Gibson Oratorical and Declamation Contest, The Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community Inc., William J. Faulkner's Friends of Folklore, The American Library Association, and Dade County Media Specialist Association. Those organizations provided Mr. Cook with many excellent opportunities for the rendering of community service, an activity to which he brought serious and steadfast commitment.

Mr. Cook's extensive travels took him to such places as West Africa, England, Germany, Scotland, Wales, the Netherlands, Iceland, Canada, The Caribbean, France, and Italy. From his travels, he gained a variety of diverse cultural experiences, which he generously shared with family, friends, students, churches, colleges, and universities.

In addition to being an enthusiastic collector of Black Art, first edition books, and collector plates, Mr. Cook was the recipient of a variety of awards including: 1995 Teacher of the Year Award, from Holmes Elementary School; Eighth Annual Sistrunk Historical Festival Award, Ft. Lauderdale, FL in 1995; Florida International University Service Awards for 5, 10, 15, and 25 years of service; and Eighth Annual Theodore R. Gibson Project Award, 1986

Mr. Cook completed 26 years of service as a librarian at Florida National University. His life ambition was to complete his writings on the life and works of Zora Neal Hurston.

Until his demise, Mr. Cook received loving and around- the- clock care in the Orlando home of his son Dave Thompson and wife Elizabeth .Their sons Kristian and David loved their Grandfather dearly and spent many happy hours listening to his wonderful stories and receiving the benefit of his wise counsel.

Mr. Cook leaves to mourn his passing: His Son Dave (Elizabeth) Thompson of Orlando Florida. Grandchildren: Kristian Thompson of Miami Florida and David Thompson of Orlando Florida. Special friend who shared the same passion of wanting to help youth reach their fullest potential: Dessie Horne Williams of Miami Florida. Nephews: Joshua Kenneth Dove III.  & Richard Holland. Nieces: Beverly Dove (Leo) Ross, of Richmond, VA and .Ingrid Bernadette Dove of Atlanta Georgia. Grand Niece: Joy Nicole Ross. Grand Nephew: Raymond Williams and Joshua Kenneth (Angelique) Dove VI. Cousin: Yvonne Fisher. Goddaughters: Rosemarie Crocker, Almeta Birch & L. Ann Cumbie-Patterson (Lester). Godsons: Robert Battle of New York, Evan MacArthur of Japan and Petty officer Aston Cumbie Farquharson of Honolulu, Hawaii. Extended Family members: Joe &Eula Johnson, Earl Robinson, Ron Henry, Roy Moultry, Veronica Wellington, Charles (Bridgette) MacArthur, Bernice Horne Edgecombe-Tel-Saint (Amelius). And many other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.

He will be sorely missed.  

Memorial services will be held at, The First Missionary Baptist Church on Friday August 5 2016 at 6:00pm.22 South 9th Street, Fernandina Beach FL 32034.

In lieu of flowers donation can be made to Nassau County Community Development Corporation, Inc. for the Rychard-Lottie-Annie Cook Scholarship. Address: P.O. Box 16382, Fernandina Beach, FL 32035.

Seward Broussard, 62, of Fernandina Beach, passed away Sunday afternoon, April 30, 2017, at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring.

Born in Abbeville, La., he was the son of the late Vernice and Zula Mae Broussard. He grew up in Milton, where he was a graduate of Comeaux High School. After high school, he attended Commonwealth College for a short time before landing a job in the construction Industry. In the mid-1970s, he obtained his general contractor’s license and founded Seaward Homes in Lafayette, La. In 1986, he and his wife moved to Fernandina Beach. After settling in Northeast Florida, they continued to run Seaward Homes and, in 2000, opened Littleberry Farm, a wedding and event venue.

Seward loved people and hosting events at their farm, whether it be a lavish wedding, family reunion, fundraiser for a charitable cause, gathering of rival Florida and Georgia fans or a Super Bowl party. His hobby was cooking and seeing other people enjoy life as he did.

He leaves behind his high school sweetheart and wife of 45 years, Terry Elliott Broussard; and their children, Brian and Summer, all of Fernandina Beach; three granddaughters, Sydney and Bailey Broussard; their mother Patty Broussard and Paisley Broussard; also a sister and two brothers of Milton.

A celebration of his life will be held from 3-6 p.m. Sunday, May 7, at his farm.

Please share his Life Story and leave your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Mr. Roy Delbert Ennis, 76, affectionately known as “Papot” and the beloved husband of Glenda Ennis of Fernandina Beach, passed away Tuesday morning, May 2, 2017, at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring. Born March 20, 1941, in Fort Worth, Texas, he was one of three and the last living child born to the late Jesse Lee and Letha Jewell Hudson Ennis.

He grew up in Fort Worth, where he was a graduate of Technical High School, Class of 1958. While attending school in Fort Worth, he met Glenda Jo Thompson, who would become his wife in 1960. The newlyweds made their first home in Fort Worth, where Mr. Ennis worked as an orthopedic surgical technician at St. Joseph’s and Harris Hospital. From 1969 until 1982, he worked in the Fort Worth area as a salesman with Howmedica Inc., a company specializing in the sales and distribution of orthopedic implants. Because of his success and exemplary work ethic as a salesman, in 1982, he was offered his own Howmedica distributorship. He and his wife moved to Kenner, La., where he ran Howmedica – Ennis Inc. until retiring in 1997. After retiring, he enjoyed spending his newly found spare time transporting his grandchildren to their special events and traveling with his wife. Since 2006, they have made their home in Fernandina Beach.

Mr. Ennis was a member of Stockyard Masonic Lodge, Fort Worth; the Kiwanis Clubs of New Orleans and Fernandina Beach; as well as a member of the Men’s Newcomers Club of Fernandina Beach.

Since settling in Fernandina Beach, he and his wife have been members of First Baptist Church, where he was a member of the William Davis Sunday School Class.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his twin brother, Ray Albert Ennis, and his sister, Vonda Hall.

He leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Glenda Jo Ennis of Fernandina Beach; son, Michael Dean Ennis (Wanda) of New Orleans; daughter, Deborah Jo Suhr (Phillip) of Fernandina Beach; and grandchildren, Morgan, Mason, Madison and Matthew, all of Fernandina Beach; as well as three nieces and one nephew.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard, with his Sunday school teacher, Jimmy Parker, officiating.

His Sunday school class and Mr. Oscar Odom are asked to sit as honorary pallbearers.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 1600 S. Eighth St., Fernandina Beach, FL 32034.

Please share his Life Story and leave your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Mr. James W. Brown, 84, of Fernandina Beach, passed away Sunday, May 7, 2017.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Milford Boyett, 93, of Fernandina Beach, passed away Sunday, May 7, 2017.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Joan L. Moore, 68, passed away passed away Monday, May 8, 2017. A graveside ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, May 12, at Green Pine Cemetery.

Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery