Mr. John D. Allen, 93, of Amelia Island, passed away Sunday, September 3, 2017, at Quality Health of Fernandina.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Michael K. Applewhite, 60, of Fernandina Beach, passed away on Monday, September 4, 2017.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Mrs. Marguerite D. Carroll, 83, of Fernandina Beach, passed away Wednesday, August 30, 2017.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Patricia Ann Sebekos-Tobias, 72, of Fernandina Beach, passed away on Saturday, September 2, 2017.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Michael Keith Applewhite, 60, of Fernandina Beach passed away on Monday, September 4, 2017 at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Jacksonville. He was born on September 27, 1956 in Washington, DC to the late Thomas Newman Applewhite Jr. and Margaret Elaine Cofield Applewhite. The family moved to the Cedar Hills area of Jacksonville when he was seven years old. He attended Cedar Hills Elementary School, Jeb Stuart Middle School and Nathan B. Forrest High School. His family moved to Fernandina Beach in 1972, placing Michael in the 1974 graduating class of Fernandina Beach High School. He continued his education, graduating with a bachelor of arts in economics from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, and then worked at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort for a short time. Michael returned to college and graduated from Calhoun School in Baltimore, Md. with a bachelor of arts in engineering. After graduating from the Calhoun School, he began working as a merchant seaman until he retired in 2012, after spending 25 years in the high seas.

While working as a merchant seaman and being home on days off and after retirement; he worked in the family business “Five Points Package Store,” which his parents had purchased from Aubrey Williams in the mid-1980s. 

He enjoyed fishing, NASCAR racing, being an avid fan of Jimmie Johnson and the Florida State Seminoles. He was an active supporter of numerous local charities.

Mr. Applewhite’s parents passed away in 2011.

He leaves behind his children, Thomas Michael Applewhite and Sarah Elizabeth Applewhite, both of Yulee, Hannah Clements of Jacksonville, Anthony Clements of Jacksonville and Carl Everett Crabtree (Traci); siblings, Deborah Wickless of Fernandina Beach, Sharon Phillips of Hermitage, Tenn., Douglas Applewhite (Jody) of Jacksonville; grandchildren, Nevaeh and Cameron Clements and Courtney Crabtree; and several nieces and nephews.

His family will receive friends on from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, September 16, 2017 at Oxley-Heard.

Mr. Applewhite will be laid to rest with his parents in Bosque Bello Cemetery.

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

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Frankin Eugene Byrd, 84, of Yulee passed away September 5, 2016.  Memorial service plans will soon be announced.

Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery

Mr. Jefferson Hardy, 74, passed away Wednesday, September 6, 2017, at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Peggie Elliot Harmon, 76, of Yulee passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday, September 1, 2017 in the care of Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla.

Eternity Funeral Homes & Cremations – Nassau

Howard Deaver Huckabee, Jr. (U.S. Navy Ret.), 73, of Yulee passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 3, 2017 at UF Shands-Jacksonville.

Eternity Funeral Homes & Cremations – Nassau

Nancy G. Oliver, 74, of Fernandina Beach passed away on Thursday, September 7, 2017.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Mrs. Viola Suriano, 89, of Fernandina Beach passed away Thursday September 7, 2017, at Quality Health of Fernandina.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Norma Anne Wilch, 90, of Amelia Island passed away September 1, 2017.

Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery

Mr. Jefferson William “Jeff” Hardy, 74, of Fernandina and Jacksonville passed away on Wednesday afternoon, September 6, 2017 at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla.

Born in Chicago, Ill., he was the son of the late Jefferson Davis and Helen Esther Meyers Hardy. He grew up in Hinesdale, where he graduated high school before attending Chicago Technical College and Southern Illinois University, where he studied architectural design. Mr. Hardy enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves, which brought him to Jacksonville in the mid-1960s. Shortly after coming to Jacksonville, he joined CSX Transportation in 1966. He worked as a customer service agent for many years before moving in to the mainframe internet technology department. from where he retired in 2000. In 1983, while living in Jacksonville, he met a neighbor, Lisa Massey and struck up a friendship that would blossom into a marriage in May of 1993.  Jeff and Lisa remained in Jacksonville until moving to Fernandina Beach in 1998.

Jeff enjoyed fishing, boating, yard work, cooking for his wife and sharing his breakfast treats with family and friends. He was born with a caring spirit that was evident through his being a caregiver for his aunt and assisting with the care of his mother-in-law during her final years.

In addition to his parents and an aunt, he is preceded in death by his rescued pet poodle, Amelia.

Mr. Hardy leaves behind his wife of 24 years, Lisa Massey Hardy of Fernandina Beach; two sisters, Nancy Reid of Green Valley, Ariz. and Elizabeth Hardy of Kealakekua, Hawaii; a sister-in-law, Ava Whiteman, Jacksonville; brothers in law, William J. Massey of Tampa, Fla., Joseph E. Massey, Starke, Fla., James L. Massey, Piedmont, Ala.; high school classmate and long time friends, Jerry Quinn and Ken Rathke; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 16, 2017 in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard with Chaplain Jackie Hayes officiating.

Mr. Hardy will be laid to rest at 1 p.m. in Riverside Memorial Park, Jacksonville.

His family will receive friends on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

If so desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Nassau Humane Society, 642 Airport Road, Fernandina Beach, FL  32034.

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

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Nancy Gail Oliver, 74, of Fernandina Beach passed away on Thursday, September 7, 2017 at Baptist Medical Center Nassau. She was born on March 11, 1943 in Atlanta, Ga. to the late Howard and Alberta Freeman Fortner.

She was employed as an administrator with the State of Georgia Medical Licensing Board in Atlanta for over 20 years before moving to Fernandina Beach in 2001.

She enjoyed the beach, feeding seagulls, cleaning and all manner of gardening and yard work.

She is predeceased in death by her husband, Edward Leroy Oliver.

She leaves behind her children, Timothy “Tim” Oliver of Fernandina Beach and Peggy McCall of Jacksonville; a sister, Barbara Holbrooks of North Georgia; a brother-in-law, Dalton (Rosiland) Oliver of Georgetown, Ga.; and grandchildren, Miranda Golden and Josh Turner.

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

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Mrs. Elma Viola Suriano, 89 of Fernandina Beach passed away on Thursday afternoon, September 7, 2017 at Quality Health of Fernandina Beach.

Born in Automba, Minn., she was the last living of five children born to the late Henry and Edna Serafina Krigsholm Freeman. At the age of 21, she married a young sailor, Joseph Suriano. Her husband left the Navy and joined the Coast Guard. One of his assignments brought the family to Fernandina. where he worked as the chief engineer at the Amelia Island Lighthouse. They would later receive orders that took them to Charleston, S.C. and Cape May, N.J., from where Mr. Suriano retired. The Suriano family returned to Fernandina Beach, where her husband served as the city of Fernandina’s dock master and most notably as a vocational counselor at the Fernandina Beach High School.

Mrs. Suriano raised their children and supported their school activities, whether it be marching band practice, band fund-raising events, or cheering for their sports teams. She worked from her home as a seamstress, making many brides happy on their special day. As an accomplished seamstress, she sewed wedding dresses, bride’s maid dresses, prom dresses and school majorette and cheerleader uniforms. She continued sewing into her 80s, when she gave up doing alterations.

Mrs. Suriano enjoyed traveling and was a member of Destinations Unlimited. She was an avid sports fan and enjoyed supporting her children’s sports endeavors.

Her husband, Joe Suriano, passed away in 1998.

She leaves behind their children, Darlene A. Morris (Mark) of Fernandina Beach, Deborah J. Hatton (James) of Kingsland, Ga., Donna L. Rowland (Buddy) of Fernandina Beach, and Donald J. Suriano (Linda), of Mandarin, Fla.; five grandchildren, Brent Donald Suriano, April Michelle Hatton Brooks, Brock Suriano, Debra Hatton Tomko, Kyle Lee Rowland; great-grandchildren, Colton James Tomko, Tucker Alan Rowland, Haley Anna Brooks, Whitmore Sterling Suriano, Marlei Ashton Suriano, Laila Isabaella Suriano; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 15, 2017 from the graveside in Bosque Bello Cemetery with Reverend Jackie Hayes officiating.

Mrs. Suriano will be laid to rest beside her husband.

If so desired, donations may be made in her name to NE Florida Community Hospice, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257.

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

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Evelyn Johns, 90, of Fernandina Beach passed away on Tuesday, September 12, 2017.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Martha Leggett Riebel, 67, of Fernandina Beach passed away on Monday, September 11, 2017.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

The funeral service for Enno “Erno” Davis will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, September 16, 2017 at the First Missionary Baptist Church, located at 20 S. Ninth St. in Fernandina Beach. The visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, September 15, 2017 at the Central Metropolitan C.M.E. Church at 4611 N. Pearl St. in Jacksonville. Interment will be in O’Neal Cemetery. Please sign the family’s guest book and view a video tribute at www.tswarden.com.

Funerals by Tyrone S. Warden

Evelyn B. Johns, 90, of Fernandina Beach passed away on Tuesday, September 12, 2017. Born March 26, 1927, in Defuniak Springs, Fla., she was the youngest child of the late Virgil and Jesse King Balkom.

Mrs. Johns was a longtime resident of Fernandina Beach. having moved here in 1953. She considered herself a true islander. She was a devoted wife and mother who loved spending time with her grandchildren, tending her plants, and reading her books.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Chester Eugene Johns; two brothers, Emmitt and Hulon Balkom; and three sisters, Cara Lofton, Erie Cosson, and Vera Jarvis.

She is survived by a daughter, Janice Nettles and her husband, Bob, of Ocala, Fla.; a son, Steven Mausert and his wife, Patty, of Lynn Haven, Fla.; four grandchildren, David Nettles and his wife, Belinda, of High Springs, Fla., Lisa Frazier and her husband, Marc, of Rome, Ga., Melanie Bower and her husband, Brett, of Tomball, Texas, and Kevin Mausert and his wife, Amy, of Chicago, Ill.; seven great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces, nephews and very dear friends.

Mrs. Johns' family will receive friends from 2 to 2:45 p.m. Saturday, September 16, 2017 at Oxley Heard Funeral Directors. Funeral services will be held at the graveside at 3 p.m. at Bosque Bello Cemetery with Chaplain Jackie Hayes officiating.

The family asks to remember her life by making donations in her memory to Community Hospice of NE Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257

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

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Joseph Cuffe Van Gieson passed away Friday, September 1, 2017.

Joe, born March 5, 1947 in Cleveland, Ohio to Paul Van Gieson and Evelyn (Cuffe) Van Gieson, soon thereafter moved to Pearl River, N.Y., where the family built its home on Cherry Brook. After serving in the U.S. Army, he lived in Providence, R.I. and Norwich, Conn.

Joe worked for General Dynamics in St. Marys, Ga. while living in Kingsland, Ga. with the love of his life, Molly. Joe always cared deeply for Molly, but in the last few years of Molly’s life, he demonstrated unparalleled diligence and dedication to her comfort and care until her death seven years ago.

Joe was an avid reader and an advocate of literacy and the pursuit of objective knowledge over a wide variety of disciplines. His acute curiosity never waned. He was a music aficionado and enjoyed varied styles. He loved to cheer for the Jacksonville Axemen rugby team and received an “MVP” patch from representatives of the team in August of this year.

Joe will be deeply missed by his family and many friends, most recently those in Georgia and Florida who were blessed to know him.

He is survived by his brother, Jim, and wife Kathy, of Foster, R.I.; his nephew, Ben, and wife, Lindsey, and their daughter, Hadley, of Sterling, Mass.; and his nephew, Mike, of Lincoln, Vt. He is also survived by his sister, Mary, and her husband, Richard Smith, of Riegelsville, Pa., and their daughter, Kate VG Smith, of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Donations in Joe’s name to Journey4Youth Inc. will be warmly welcomed. Joe’s good friends, Brian and Katie Ernst, run this wonderful charity. Visit their website at journey4youth.org to make a donation. The organization helps rural villagers in southwest Kenya create long-term sustainable change.

Blanche Allen Vann, 92, passed away Thursday, September 7, 2017 at Wayne Memorial Hospital after a short illness.

A former resident of Thomasville, Ga. and a resident of Jesup, Ga. for over 57 years, Blanche was born on June 28, 1925 in Miami, Fla. to the late Oscar Walter and Elizabeth Cobb Allen. She spent her early years in Thomasville and was especially proud of the fact that during that time she had been given the opportunity to assist wounded veterans returning home from World War II. Blanche and her late husband of 34 years, Eugene Jack Vann, moved several times before settling in Jesup, where she was a member of First Baptist Church and the Naomi-Berean-Dorcas Sunday School Class, where she currently held the position of secretary. Blanche had also taught Sunday school, had a passion for gardening and loved working in her yards to keep them beautiful. She was a member of the Dogwood Garden Club for many years and also volunteered with the Wayne Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, where she worked in the gift shop and assisted with Christmas decorations. Blanche devoted herself to her family. She centered her world around their needs and was always there to lend a helping hand. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading and crossword puzzles.

In addition to her parents and her husband, her brothers, Roy, Jack and Louis Allen, her sister, Martha Allen Donaldson, and her grandson, Jack Thomas Ogden, preceded her in death.

Survivors include four daughters and sons-in-law, Gail and Jerry Greeson of Fernandina Beach, Carmen and Tim Meadows of Athens, Ga., Cathy and Greg Grantham of Jesup, and Nancy and Dan Ogden of Jesup; eight grandchildren, Heath Greeson and wife, Kristan, Hope Greeson, Daniel Meadows, Matthew Meadows and wife, Carmen, Catherine Bagley and husband, John, Gregory Grantham and his wife, Alisha, Hoke Ogden and wife, Christy and Shep Ogden. Thirteen great-grandsons, three great-granddaughters and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members also survive.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, September 15, 2017 at First Baptist Church in Jesup with Dr. Michael VonMoss and Dr. Felix Haynes officiating.

A reception will follow immediately in the church social hall. All are invited to come and share fond memories with the family during a time of fellowship and celebration.

Interment services will be held privately in Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be grandsons and honorary pallbearers will be members of the Naomi-Berean-Dorcas Sunday School Class.

Remembrances may be made to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1115, Jesup, GA 31598 or Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 N. Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607.

Please sign our guestbook online at www.jesupfuneralhome.com.

Howard & Jones Funeral Home

Mr. Michael Keith Applewhite, 61, passed away on Monday, September 4, 2017. His family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, September 16, 2017 at Oxley-Heard.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

The funeral service for Taranett Renee Brown aka "Tuxaluc" will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, September 16, 2017 at the Elm St. Church of God, 502 S. 11th St. in Fernandina Beach. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the church.

Funerals by T.S. Warden

Roberta Helen Skipper, 90, of Yulee passed away Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at her residence.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Nancy Brown Morris, 80, of Fernandina Beach and formerly of St. Marys, Ga. passed away on Saturday morning, September 16, 2017 at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville.

Born in Waldo, Fla., she was the only child born to the late N. Clarke Brown and Marjorie Claire Bell. As a child, she moved with her family to Camden County for her father’s business. She grew up in St. Marys, where she was a graduate of Camden County High School, Class of 1955. In August of 1955, she married John Calvin Newton, Jr. The Newton’s had three children who hold fond memories of their childhood and being raised around the salt marshes of St. Marys. While raising children, she worked as a purchasing agent at Gilman Hospital. She was a resident of Fernandina Beach since 1995.

She had been a longtime member of Christ Episcopal Church in St. Marys.

Her family recalls her love of reading, gardening, needlepoint, dancing, crafting, painting and the Florida Gators.

She leaves behind her three children, John Calvin Newton III and his wife, Jennifer, of Tampa, Julia “Julie” Newton Bennett of Fernandina Beach, and Jana Newton Roper and her husband, David, of Greensboro, Ga.; grandchildren, John Clarke Newton and his wife, Marshall, Jacob Cheney Newton, Allen Sheffield Roper, Julia Camden Roper, Eddie Bennett, Julie Marie Bennett; and her great-grand children, Austen Allan Bennett, Ansley Taylor Bennett, and Lillian “Lily” Simons Newton.

Funeral services from the graveside will be at a later date as she is laid to rest with her parents in Oakgrove Cemetery in St. Marys.

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

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Mr. Henry R. Kronbach, 65, of Yulee passed away on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at UF Health of Jacksonville.

Born on Long Island, N.Y., he was one of six children and the youngest son of the late Julius and Margaret Mary Sweeney Kronbach. He grew up in Patchogue, N.Y., where he graduated from high school in 1970. After high school, he attended community college and studied business. After college, he began a long career in food service that started with White Rose Distributors in New York. In 1992, he and his wife moved from Patchogue to Fernandina Beach, where he worked as a manager of local eateries that include the Amelia Island Plantation, Papa Johns and Pizza Hut.

He had been a longtime member at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in New York, where he had been a member of the Knights of Columbus for the past 35 years. Since 2010, he was a faithful servant and member of the Promise Land Church in Fernandina Beach.

Henry loved to serve others, whether it was with his cooking, through his church or taking in others for the holidays. He put others before himself through his volunteering at Baptist Medical Center Nassau, St. Michael Catholic Church and the Food Ministry at the Journey Church.

He leaves behind his wife of 29 years, Nati Kronbach of Yulee; a daughter, Kimberly Bouker of North Hampton, Long Island, N.Y.; a son, Miguel Kronbach of Fernandina Beach; four brothers, George Kronbach of Yulee, Ronald Kronbach of Yulee, Lawrence Kronbach of Middleburg, and Julius Douglas of Abilene, Texas; a sister, Patricia M. Link of St. Johns, Fla.; a grandson, Thomas Riley Bouker; numerous nieces and nephews; and a special, adopted nine-year-old niece, Genesis Mejia of El Salvador.

Funeral services will be at 6 p.m. Friday, September 22, 2017 at The Promise Land Church with Pastor Carlos Serrano officiating.

His family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to the hour of the service Friday, September 22, 2017 at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory to The Promise Land Church are encouraged. The church is located at 416 Alachua 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 Franklin Shepard, Jr., 78, of Fernandina Beach passed away Thursday, September 7, 2017. He was born July 30, 1939 in Pearson, Ga. to James and Leola Shepard of Waycross, Ga. Frank was a remarkably humble, kind and generous Christian man.

The love and joy of his life were his three daughters, Cindy Maulsby (Ken) of Newnan, Ga., the late Penny Suzanne Shepard of Waycross, Ga., and Monica Shepard of Sebring, Fla.; six grandchildren and one great-grandson.

A graveside service was held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, September 16, 2017 in Greenlawn Cemetery. The family received friends at Miles-Odum Funeral Home from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, September 16, 2017. Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.milesodumfuneralhome.com.

Ronald B. Thornberry passed away August 24, 2017.

Born in 1929 in Iron Mountain, Mich., Ron was a successful businessman and entrepreneur. As the owner of Thornberry’s Appliances in Middletown, N.J. since 1952, Ron had a keen business sense and zest for life. After graduating Kingsford High School in 1947, Ron joined the U.S. Navy for four years, serving at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, as well as in Massachusetts and Europe and at sea duty. While serving our country, he attended college at Amhurst and Springfield University and graduated from the Naval Justice School in Newport, R.I. It was in 1952 that he opened his retail business as well as a real estate company. Ron retired in 1997 to Amelia Island, where he was still active in real estate.

He is survived by his loving wife of 15 years, Jacquelyn, as well as sons, William and Robert, and daughters, Jennifer and Marcie. Ron is also survived by his grandchildren, Kelly, Julia, Steve, Greg, Katie, Zachary and Shaylee as well as four great-grandchildren and two stepsons.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, September 22, 2017 at the Amelia Plantation Chapel, Amelia Island.  A reception will follow in the home of David and Linda Vrooman at the end of Village Drive.

In memoriam, donations can be made on behalf of Mr. Thornberry to the Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla.

To sign Mr. Thornberry's online register book, please visit the Green Pine website at www.greenpinefuneral.com.

Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery

Mrs. Gracie Geraldine Crisher, 75, of Fernandina Beach passed away on Sunday, September 16, 2017.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Gordon Scott Frazier, 54, of Fernandina Beach passed away Thursday, September 14, 2017. No local services are planned at this time.

Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery

Marvin E. Jones, 85, of Fernandina Beach passed away Sunday morning, September 17, 2017. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, September 22, 2017 at First Baptist Church of Fernandina Beach. Interment will follow at Bosque Bello Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, September 21, 2017 at Green Pine Funeral Home.

Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery

John Joseph Bateman, 37, of Yulee passed away on Monday, September 18, 2017 at his residence.

He was born October 3, 1979 in Bunnell, Fla. the son of Joseph Booe Bateman, Jr., and Minnie Mae Deen.

In 1988, his family moved to Fernandina Beach, where he was a graduate of Fernandina Beach High School, Class of 1997. After high school, John attended Florida State Community College, where he earned an associate of science degree in digital media arts and multimedia technology, majoring in video and television production. He began a career in internet technology with AOL at the customer service center in North Jacksonville before joining the technical support team of SIATECH and then running his own business. In 2014, he joined the family business, The Ogburn School, as the director of IT services.

John was incredibly creative, channeling his ingenuity through the creation of new digital music and remixing and remastering old selections. He was an avid animal lover, having rescued and cared for dozens of animals over the years. He enjoyed gardening, drawing, Star Trek and reading. His friends and family use words like generous, smart and fun to describe him – but most of all, he was kind.

He leaves behind his wife, Amber Gum, and daughter, Madelyn Gum, both of Jacksonville; mother, Minnie D. (Charles) Ogburn of Yulee; father, Joseph “Jody” B. (Mickie) Bateman of Satsuma, Fla.; and sister, Brandy Carvalho of Fernandina Beach.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 23, 2017 in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley Heard.

The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the hour of the service Saturday at Oxley-Heard.

He will be laid to rest in Espanola Cemetery in Bunnell, Fla. at 3 p.m.

If so desired, memorial contributions may be made to Cats Angels, 709 S. Eighth St., Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 or Sunshine Corgi Rescue, 3900 Valley Lane, Titusville, FL 32780.

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

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Joe Wayne Boyles, 74, passed away peacefully on September 7, 2017 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Lake City, Fla.

He was born September 5, 1943 to Lois and Bertha Boyles in Dublin, Ga.

He spent two years in the U.S. Army serving during the Vietnam War. After being honorably discharged from the Army, he moved to Nassau County, where he resided more than 53 years of his life. He worked for many years for his brother-in-law at Broxton Stateline Shell, US Gypsum, and then finally, White Oak Plantation as a painter, where he retired after 15 years of service in 2005.

He was a member of the former Bailey Road Church of God, where he was very instrumental in building a new Church of God on one the Native American Reservations in Arizona. He later became a member of Lifeline Ministries.

He was predeceased by his parents, Lois and Bertha Boyles, and his only sister, Marjorie Broxton.

He is survived by his wife, Lillian Boyles; three children, Kim Mason (Steve), Phillip Cooner (Shannon), and Darren Cooner; seven grandchildren, Andrew, Morgan, Kiley, Alexus, Katelyn, Faith, and Hunter; and one great-grandchild, Aunna. In addition, he is survived by his two brothers, Gerald Boyles (Brenda) of Yulee and Ronald Boyles of Waycross, Ga.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, September 22, 2017 at Celebration Assembly, 850472 U.S. Highway 17, Yulee, with Rev. Paul H. Kalem officiating. There will be a viewing prior to the service at 10 a.m. Burial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Road, Jacksonville, with Rev. Rick Lowary officiating.

Gary N. Cochran, 53, of Fernandina Beach passed away Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at UF Health in Jacksonville after a short illness.

Mr. Cochran was born in Aiken, S.C. a son of Larry and Willa Roach Cochran. Gary spent much of his younger life in Waynesboro, Ga. and was a graduate of Georgia Southern University, holding bachelor of science degrees in both education and communications and public relations. 

After successful careers with the American Cancer Society in Macon, Ga. and the Georgia Department of Human Resources in Atlanta, he moved to Amelia Island to accept a position at the The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island in 2005. At the Ritz-Carlton, he enjoyed his work in event planning and food service and developed many long-lasting friendships while there. 

He will always be remembered as a loving son, brother and a doting uncle and someone who always enjoyed life and made things more enjoyable and better for those around him. 

Mr. Cochran was predeceased by his brother, Wesley Cochran, in 2015.

His surviving family includes his mother, Willa R. Cochran, his father, Larry Cochran, a brother, Barry Cochran and his wife, Lydia, all of Fernandina Beach; nieces and a nephew, Carman Cochran of Fernandina Beach and Margaret and Daniel Cochran of Cochran, Ga.; and his best friend, Terry Jones, of Dublin, Ga. 

Funeral services for Mr. Cochran will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, September 22, 2017 in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors. Burial will follow at Bosque Bello Cemetery.

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

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors