DEATH NOTICES 

Douglas Dales Jr., 85, of Amelia Island, Fla., passed away Friday, February 1, 2019.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

William H. Frazier passed away February 4, 2019 at his Yulee, Fla. residence. Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery

Edith Guenther, 82, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Friday, February 1, 2019.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Judith Lane, 72, passed away on Sunday, February 3, 2019.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Dena Short, 103, of Amelia Island, Fla., passed away Tuesday, February 5, 2019.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Lydia McQueen Scott, 77, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Sunday, February 3, 2019 at Quality Health of Fernandina Beach.

Born in Philadelphia, Pa., she was a daughter of the late Kermit and Lydia Corey McQueen. She and her family moved to Fernandina Beach in 1954.

Lydia was a lady who always stepped up to the challenges in her life. Whether it was learning to drive as an adult with teenage children or having to go to work to support her young family, she was able to do anything she set her mind to. For many years, she was a store manager for Landon Williams. At the time of her retirement, she was manager of Marche’ Burette at Amelia Island Plantation.

She was the kind of lady who never met a stranger. She welcomed everybody she met, and even from her own home, somebody would not leave her presence without a smile on his or her face. Her ability to make anybody feel welcome and at home was one of her many endearing qualities.

One of the biggest surprises she ever had was when she won a new pickup truck by participating in a radio station contest. She and the family always laughed at her good fortune. Lydia always enjoyed bowling, dancing, and listening to Elvis and Kenny Rogers.

She was known for her excellent cooking. For both family and friends, she always made sure anybody who was around had plenty to eat, and if they departed hungry, it was their fault, not her fault.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Charles “Lindy” Scott; her brother, Edward McQueen; her grandson, Brandon Stephens; and a nephew, David McQueen.

She leaves behind her three daughters, Pam (Rick) Pope and Shelley (John) Harpe, both of Yulee, and Beth (Shane) Gibson of Fernandina Beach; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Funeral services for Mrs. Scott will be held at 12 p.m. Thursday, February 7, 2019 in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors with Mr. Clayton Edgy officiating. Her family will receive friends beginning at 11 a.m. She will be laid to rest beside her husband at Green Pine Cemetery.

Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Agnes Olivia Murphy, 78 of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Saturday, December 29, 2018 at the Jane Adams House.

She was born July 1, 1940 in Jacksonville, Fla. to the late John H. and Wilma M. (Chissom) Hodges.

Ms. Murphy was a lifelong resident of Florida, living in Hilliard, where she attended high school. She then moved to Tallahassee and finally to Fernandina Beach in 2000.

She was married to the late Lt. Col. Douglas Murphy, who passed away in 2010.

Ms. Murphy is survived by two daughters, Susan Turvey and Karen Cribb; two sisters, Marie (Kenneth) Tanner and Pearl (Ralph) Crisp; and one grandchild, Eddie Turvey.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, February 1, 2019 at Jacksonville National Cemetery, where she was laid to rest beside her husband.

Messages can be left for the family in the guest book on the memorial pages for Ms. Murphy, found at www.everhere.com and at www.oxleyheard.com.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Born in Teaneck, N.J., Cynthia Ann “Cindy” Moore, 62, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Monday, January 29, 2019 at Baptist Medical Center Nassau.

Cindy was a daughter of the late Francis Eugene Gray and Jean Waldrop Gray. Her family moved to Florida when she was six. Living for a short time in Fort Lauderdale, they moved to the Satsuma area, where she grew up and attended Crescent City Junior-Senior High School.

Cindy was a brave, strong, beautiful woman from the inside out. She was deeply devoted and dedicated to her husband, Edward “Ed” Moore. She was fierce in her beliefs with a heart of gold. Kind, caring, and compassionate toward those around her, coworkers say she was “awesome to work with” and friends have said “she’ll give you the shirt off her back.” Her endearing smile and twinkling eyes would draw you in and always lift your spirits.

Without a doubt, Cindy was a hard worker. Earlier in her life, she began working at the Great Gorge Playboy Club Hotel in McAfee, N.J., where she was a “Bunny.” For more than 20 years, she lived on Hecksher Drive in Jacksonville, where she owned and operated the Alimacani Fish Camp and Campground. She also operated the hot dog stand at the Mayport Ferry for many years and catered to the Atlantic Marine Shipyard and BAE “family.” Following that, she worked for Circle K, Flash Foods, and most recently Publix on Amelia Island.

Cindy and Ed were married July 4, 2011 on Fort George Island, Fla., and in September 2016, she and Ed moved to Fernandina Beach to create their own “oasis.”

She enjoyed cooking, fishing, gardening, entertaining, casino gambling, and traveling. She and Ed traveled across the country last year on an adventure during which they saw many national parks, visited family, and explored the great outdoors. She and Ed were planning a cruise for this coming Christmas. Cindy also loved having a good time with family and friends at their home. Annually, she and Ed would host a family reunion celebrating their marriage on July 4. Singing karaoke was always a highlight of the event for Cindy – especially with all of her sisters and those treasured duets with Ed. Of late, her favorite place to “hang out” was Starbucks, any time day or night and faithfully during her breaks at Publix. She met and made many friends while there and never had to repeat her order because the staff knew what she wanted by heart.

She leaves behind her husband, Edward R. Moore of Fernandina Beach; her children, Wayne Carlisle of Kalispell, Mont. and Nicole McGillen of Jacksonville; her mother, Jean Gray of Springhill, Fla.; her sisters, Barbara Mosher of Springhill, Debbie Gray of Satsuma, Fla., and Linda Arndt of Turtletown, Tenn.; her brothers, Gary Gray of Crescent City, Fla. and Glen Gray of Durham, N.C.; and her grandchildren, Wyatt, Kaydence, and Landon, as well as many extended family members and friends.

She will be missed greatly and remembered fondly for her warmth and contagious laughter.

A special time of gathering with family and friends to eat, drink, sing, and share will be held at a future date. There will be no local services. Her family will gather at a later time, and she will be laid to rest next to her father in Crescent City.

Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Constance Anne (Connie) Meister of passed away Thursday, January 31, 2019 at home with her family around her.

Connie was born August 11, 1955 in Evanston, Ill. to Neal and Marcia Robertson. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received her degree in elementary education. Connie was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority at Wisconsin. Connie met her husband, Jim Meister, in their first class in their freshman year at Wisconsin. She married Jim on July 22, 1978 and spent the next 40-plus years as his soulmate. Connie taught middle school in Long Grove, Ill. for five years before retiring to raise a family, run a household, manage all finances, and care for her parents. Connie and Jim lived in Wheeling, Mt. Prospect, and St. Charles, Ill. until the summer of 2016, when Jim retired, and they chose to split their time in retirement between Lake Beulah near East Troy, Wisc. and Amelia Island, Fla.

Connie loved time in and on the water, designing her homes, spending time with her children and grandchildren, the UW Marching Band, yoga, reading, and vodka on the rocks (80-20 mix). Connie’s glass was always half full; she saw the positive side of everything. She was described by a friend as a smart, funny, beautiful, and kind woman, mother, and wife. Connie might be found meditating on a yoga mat in the morning and playing Cards Against Humanity with her kids in the evening.

Connie is survived by her adoring husband, Jim; daughter, Carrie (Scott) Haskins of Kohler, Wisc.; sons, John (Anna) Meister of Hartland, Wisc. and Craig Meister of Portland, Ore.; five grandchildren; a brother, Bruce (Anne) Robertson of Salem, N.C.; and a sister, Carrie (Chris) Meyer of Indianapolis, Ind.

Visitation will be held 1-5 p.m. Thursday, February 7, 2019 at the Derrick Funeral Home, 800 Park Drive, Lake Geneva, Wisc., with a memorial service at 3:30 p.m. Following the visitation will be fellowship and remembrance at Celebration on Wells, 422 S. Wells St, Lake Geneva.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the American Brain Tumor Association or to the University of Wisconsin Foundation.

To post an online condolence please visit www.derrickfuneralhome.com.

Derrick Funeral Home

Clarence L. King Jr., 73, passed away Sunday, February 3, 2019.

He was born January 16, 1946 in Elamville, Ala. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he moved to Sunnyvale, Calif., where he began working for Delta Airlines. He was then able to transfer to Jacksonville International Airport, and he moved his family to Yulee, Fla. The last 16 years he resided in Jacksonville, Fla.

Mr. King coached Little League Baseball in Yulee and Pop Warner Football in Callahan, Fla. He was an umpire for Little League Baseball and SHSAA Baseball. He and other umpires in the Yulee area attended an umpire clinic in St. Petersburg, Fla. in support of serving their leagues better. He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 2352. He loved gardening, fishing, cooking, baseball, and University of Alabama football.

He was predeceased by his son, Kip D. King; his parents, Clarence L. and Annie King; two brothers, Johnny King and Wayne King; and his stepfather, Dewitt Freeman.

Survivors include his daughter, Terri L. Lee (Cody); three brothers, James Earl King, Samuel King (Pat), and Wendell King (Suzanne); four sisters, Sallie Clackley (Buddy), Faye Greathouse (Larry), Patricia Berry (Steve), and Diane Battles; two grandchildren, Anna E. Lee and Sarah N. Lee; many nieces and nephews; and former spouse and friend, Jane King.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, February 8, 2019 at Blackrock Baptist Church in Yulee with Pastor John Kasper officiating. Interment will follow in Green Pine Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the time of service Friday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to Community Hospice and Palliative Care.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Larry Gene Johnson, 60,of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Sunday, February 3, 2019 at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla.

He was born August 29, 1958 in Grinnell, Iowa to the late Lavern and Drusilla “Sally” (Hansen) Johnson. After he graduated from Lynnville-Sully High School in 1976, Larry worked at Grinnell College for several years before moving to Amelia Island, Fla., where he worked as an engineer and, most recently, a shuttle driver for The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.

Larry had a kind and gentle spirit. He enjoyed cooking, fishing, and spending time with his many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He leaves behind his longtime companion, Ellen Leming; his sister, Marie (Dennis) Cope of Johnson City, Tenn.; a brother, Gordon (Marcene) Johnson of Newton, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla. for their exceptional care.

A celebration of Larry’s life will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, February 6, 2019 in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors. The family will receive friends from 2 p.m. until the hour of service at the funeral home. There will also be a celebration of his life in Iowa at a later date.

If so desired, donations may be made in Larry’s name to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257.

Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Rhonda Lynn Denmark, 54, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, February 2, 2019 from Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla. after a lengthy illness.

Born in Jacksonville, she was the daughter of Ernest and Janice Barnhill Denmark. She and her family moved to Callahan while she was young and she grew up there.

She was a member of the Class of 1982 from West Nassau County High School, where she was a standout in softball. She played second base, and during her time on the team, the Warriors went to the state playoffs. She went on to play softball at Florida State College at Jacksonville as she worked on her associate’s degree. After college, she continued playing co-ed softball for many years.

She began a 32-year career working for the U.S. Post Office at the Kings Road Branch in Jacksonville, Fla. Rhonda eventually moved to the Callahan Post Office, where she spent 12 years before transferring to the Sadler Road Post Office in Fernandina Beach. She worked there for several years before her retirement.

In addition to her career and softball, Rhonda loved anything to do with the beach and the water. Whether it was in her boat, tubing, or just spending the day at the beach, she loved being on or near the water. It was her love of the beach and the ocean that brought her to Fernandina Beach.

In addition to the enjoyment she had on the water, she always enjoyed having a good time with family and friends. She loved nothing more than an evening together with family and friends singing Karaoke at home. She also loved playing ping-pong and enjoyed her camera and the simple pleasure of taking pictures of the world around her. Rhonda’s ability to capture the perfect pictures was uncanny.

She will be remembered for her easy-going and laid-back style as well as her loving and compassionate personality. Even at work, people commented on how infectious her smile was. She was strong and courageous and never wanted to burden anyone, even through her illness.

Her loving personality was most evident with her daughter, Courtney, and her wife, Lisa. The both of them were her whole heart.

She leaves behind her wife of 10 years, Lisa Seager of Fernandina  Beach; her daughter, Courtney Gose of Jacksonville; and her parents, Ernie and Janice Denmark of Callahan, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and other extended family and a large circle of friends.

Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, February 8, 2019 in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors with Chaplain Jim Tippins officiating. The family will receive friends 5-7 p.m. Thursday, February 7, 2019. She will be laid to rest in Bosque Bello Cemetery.

Those desiring may make donations in Rhonda’s memory to the Nassau Humane Society, 639 Airport Road, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034, or any of the multiple organizations that assist in the fight against breast cancer.

Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com .

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Edith (Edie) Doerr Moore, a resident of Osprey Village at Amelia Island Plantation, tossed aside her walker, cancelled all pending doctors’ appointments, and danced her way to the performing arts paradise in the sky with her Heavenly Father at the age of 91.

She was born February 22, 1927 to Edith and William Doerr in Buffalo, N.Y. and passed from her earthly existence January 25, 2019 while in the care of the compassionate doctors and nurses at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla. with husband Roger, daughter Deb and son Dave surrounding her. 

Edie started her performing career as a child along with her family on a radio program in Buffalo. She continued to enjoy and share the arts as host of various radio programs in Buffalo and in stage performances at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where she shared a role with actress Eva Marie Saint, and at Daemon College in Amherst, N.Y., where she turned in a riveting leading performance derived from her life experiences in The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds. 

Edie loved all the arts and cherished the many summers she was able to enjoy at the world-renowned Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, N.Y. with Roger as they split their time, spending half the year on Laurel Oak Road on Amelia Island.

Edie had four children with her first husband of 30 years, Francis (Bud) Greune. After they divorced, she reunited with her old high school sweetheart, Roger Moore, known to many on the island as a talented photographer. She graduated from Kenmore High School in Kenmore, N.Y. and attended Bowling Green before eventually earning her degree at Daemon.

She was a woman perhaps a little ahead of her time, progressive and socially conscious, accepting of all without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or nationality. She maintained a commitment to fitness well into her 80s and never missed her weekly appointment at the hairdresser.

Edie is survived by her husband, Roger Moore of Osprey Village; daughter, Deb Dewey (Brian Hoffere) of Rochester, N.Y.; son, Dave Greune (Mary) of Raleigh, N.C.; son, Paul Greune of Buffalo, N.Y.; and brother, Bill Doerr of Michigan, as well as seven grandchildren, Jennifer, Angela, Julia, Erica, Amber, Jeff, and Josh, and five great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind her beloved sister-in-law, Sherry Doerr of Buffalo, and eight nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents; her first-born son, Stephen Greune (1977); her first husband, Bud (2012); and her youngest brother, Bob Doerr.

A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. February 16, 2019 at the Amelia Plantation Chapel, 36 Bowman Road, Amelia Island, Fla. with a reception in the Chapel hall immediately following. Her ashes will be interred at the columbarium at Amelia Plantation Chapel.

Anyone wishing to make a donation, please send it to Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla., 1348 South 18th St. Building B, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034.

Eternity Funeral Homes & Cremations – Nassau

Clarence L. King Jr., 73, passed away Sunday, February 3, 2019.

He was born January 16, 1946 in Elamville, Ala. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he moved to Sunnyvale, Calif., where he began working for Delta Airlines. He was then able to transfer to Jacksonville International Airport, and he moved his family to Yulee, Fla. The last 16 years he resided in Jacksonville, Fla.

Mr. King coached Little League Baseball in Yulee and Pop Warner Football in Callahan, Fla. He was an umpire for Little League Baseball and SHSAA Baseball. He and other umpires in the Yulee area attended an umpire clinic in St. Petersburg, Fla. in support of serving their leagues better. He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 2352. He loved gardening, fishing, cooking, baseball, and University of Alabama football.

He was predeceased by his son, Kip D. King; his parents, Clarence L. and Annie King; two brothers, Johnny King and Wayne King; and his stepfather, Dewitt Freeman.

Survivors include his daughter, Terri L. Lee (Cody); three brothers, James Earl King, Samuel King (Pat), and Wendell King (Suzanne); four sisters, Sallie Clackley (Buddy), Faye Greathouse (Larry), Patricia Berry (Steve), and Diane Battles; two grandchildren, Anna E. Lee and Sarah N. Lee; many nieces and nephews; and former spouse and friend, Jane King.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, February 8, 2019 at Blackrock Baptist Church in Yulee with Pastor John Kasper officiating. Interment will follow in Green Pine Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the time of service Friday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to Community Hospice and Palliative Care.

Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery

Judith T. Lane, 72, of Jacksonville, Fla. and formerly of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Sunday, February 3, 2019 at the McGraw Center in Jacksonville.

She was born in 1947 in Great Barrington, Mass. to the late Alex P. and Jeannette Nadelberg. Judith grew up in Copake, N.Y., and Pittsfield, Mass. She graduated from Pittsfield High School and was in the Vassar College Class of 1969, later earning an MBA from the University of New Mexico in the late 1970s.

Judith worked in a number of fields, including social work for the state of New Mexico before finding her calling in information technology. After teaching herself programming, she quickly rose through the ranks to design and implement a welfare case management system for New Mexico. She lived for several years on the Azore Islands, Portugal, working in IT for the U.S. Air Force as a civilian employee. She moved to Scott Air Force Base, near St. Louis, Mo., to continue her IT work for the Air Force. There, she met her husband, Sam, an Air Force officer. They were married in 1991 and immediately moved to Seoul, South Korea, where Judith worked as an IT systems project manager for a U.S.-South Korean joint venture. Two years later, they moved to the Washington, D.C. area, where they lived for the next 16 years. There, she was employed by several high technology companies, eventually becoming an executive for a federally funded research and \development corporation. In her last assignment, she worked as a senior advisor for strategic planning to executives at the newly created Department of Homeland Security. After retiring in 2010, she and Sam landed on Amelia Island. Not content to be retired, she dove headlong into volunteering with the city government, helping in the Planning and IT departments and later serving on the city’s Planning Advisory Board.

Judith treasured all things about nature: bird watching, animals, and trees – even going so far as to name the old live oak trees in her yard on Amelia Island. An avid Anglophile, she loved everything about English history and culture, especially enjoying the prose of English authors. The highlight of her career was a year spent on assignment in London.

She leaves behind her husband of 28 years, Sam Lane of Jacksonville.

She will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Frances Stewart Scarboro, 92, died January 29, 2019, following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's.

A Jacksonville native born October 6, 1926, Frances attended local schools, graduating from Landon High School, Class of 1945. Frances married William (Billy) Carswell, and this union produced three children: William Craig Carswell (deceased), John Malcolm Carswell (Margaret), and Rebecca Carswell Zonis (Michael). Following her divorce, Frances married John P. Scarboro Jr., a Fernandina resident, and had a wonderful life with John for 42 years. Frances remained active playing golf and working in her garden until she became afflicted with the onset of dementia. Even then, Frances and John continued to entertain at the home they built on the creek off Blackrock Road in Yulee. The home was filled with family, relatives, and friends.

In addition to her husband, John Scarboro, and her children, Frances is survived by her three granddaughters, Kitty Carswell, Mary Elizabeth Clark (Justin), and Christy Rutland (Rob), and seven great-grandchildren, Jonah, Jack, Morgan and Aubrey Clark, Rylee, Chase and Addison Rutland, Trish Harrell (Paul), and Wade Scarboro (Jeanette).

Family and friends will gather at a later date to celebrate a wonderful life well lived.

For those who may wish, a memorial may be given in her name to a charity of your choice.

Naugle Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Dena Gray Short, born November 5, 1915 in New York, N.Y., passed away February 5, 2019 on Amelia Island, Fla. at the age of 103.

She was a child of immigrants to the United States and went through the Great Depression, which had a great impact on her life. We know this instilled in her at a young age a tenacious zest for life.

During her life, she lived in New Jersey, Manhasset, N.Y., Atlanta, Ga., and Amelia Island.

Born to Dena were three children, Jack Gray, who preceded her in death, and a daughter, Nina Johnson, and another son, Richard Short. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren always gave her enormous love, joy, and laughter.

In the 1950s, Dena became a member of the Unitarian Universalist congregations of Flushing and Manhasset, Long Island, N.Y. and later in Atlanta’s Unitarian Universalist congregations including Ponce de Leon Avenue, Cliff Valley Way, and Northwest Congregation. She was instrumental in the beginnings of art show displays at the churches in New York and Atlanta. This was her great passion and the halls of the various churches are, to this day, filled with art, conversation, and camaraderie.

Dena was a devotee of Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre and High Museum for many years. She was also active in supporting the Amelia Community Theatre and Civitan clubs in Atlanta and Amelia Island.

She had a successful career in real estate in Atlanta with Harry Norman Realtors.

Living at Osprey Village in on Amelia Island was a great pleasure of her later life. A large part of her life was the daily drive to the ocean to literally breathe the beauty and magnetism of the sea.

Among all of her accomplishments, her family was most proud of her steadfast quest for knowledge. She was an amazing self-taught human being. Her infectious spirit and thirst for life was admired by all who met her.

A hospice nurse came in the room in her last days, looked at Dena, and said “I know this lady! She always sat right here in a wheelchair, busy at her bedside table. She always had on pearl cluster earrings, a necklace and scarf, and looked so pretty.” A friend wrote and said, “Dena was a lovely lady. I loved her. We shared a passion for high heels!”

She was always treated with great honor and compassion by the staff of The Retreat at Osprey Village, especially in her declining days. Their unyielding love and comfort to Dena has sent her off to eternity with a blessed soul.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to The Retreat at Osprey Village staff for their warmth and her loving caregiver, Charlene Fulgram, as well as the staff of Community Hospice.

Her family mourns her death and celebrates her life. She was a beautiful lady, Mom, Grandma, and Great-Grandma. – Dena’s Family

She will be laid to rest at 2 p.m. Friday, February 8, 2019 at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs, Ga.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Nassau County Council On Aging, at 1901 Island Walkway, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034, and at (904) 261-0701.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Kenneth Aldrich, 86, passed away peacefully January 26, 2019.

Eternity Funeral Homes & Cremations – Nassau

Lillian Caldwell, 89, passed away peacefully January 26, 2019.

Eternity Funeral Homes & Cremations – Nassau

Deborah Crane, 65, passed away peacefully January 29, 2019.

Eternity Funeral Homes & Cremations – Nassau

Earl Davis, 66, passed away peacefully February 2, 2019.

Eternity Funeral Homes & Cremations – Nassau

Edith Moore, 91, passed away peacefully January 25, 2019.

Eternity Funeral Homes & Cremations – Nassau

William Newton, 51, Passed away peacefully on February 5, 2019.  Arrangements by Eternity Funeral Home in Yulee.

Philip Johantgen, 75, passed away peacefully January 5,2019.

Eternity Funeral Homes & Cremations – Nassau

Nancy Lynn Peltz, 58, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Wednesday, February 6, 2019.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Valerie Perdue, 62, passed away peacefully January 27, 2019.

Eternity Funeral Homes & Cremations – Nassau

John Toothman, 78, passed away peacefully January 24, 2019.

Eternity Funeral Homes & Cremations – Nassau

Donald Wegner, 85, passed away peacefully January 20,2019.

Eternity Funeral Homes & Cremations – Nassau

Michael Williams, 60, passed away peacefully January 19,2019.

Eternity Funeral Homes & Cremations – Nassau

Beverly “Mammy” Higginbotham Wilks, 84, passed away February 8, 2019 at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla. surrounded by her family.

She was a lifelong resident of Yulee, Fla. and a member of Blackrock Baptist Church. She graduated from Yulee High School in 1952 and retired from Bellsouth in 1989. She loved her grandchildren, bluegrass country music, and cooking. She enjoyed taking food to anyone who had a need, and she always took care of everybody.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 29 years, Thomas Wilks; her parents, Clyde Higginbotham and George and Ethyl Darlington; and sisters, Jean Gainey and Ruth Harris.

She survived by her sisters, Janice Scott of Yulee and Sadie Fussell of Jacksonville, Fla.; her only son, Ronnie (Cheryl) Wilks; grandchildren, Kimberly (Mike) Horne of Tampa, Fla., Rebekah (Brian) Knight of Vancleave, Miss., Alicia (Billy Ray) Watson, Larissa (Mike) Kwiatkowski, Rachel (Chris) Norfleet, and Dalton (Trina) Williams of Yulee; 24 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Please join the family for a celebration of her life at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 16, 2019 at Blackrock Baptist Church with Pastor John Kasper officiating. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m.

In lieu of flowers please donate to Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla.

Donald (Don) Ellis Vaughn Jr. died peacefully February 9, 2019 at his home in Fernandina Beach, Fla. at the age of 72. He valiantly battled gastrointestinal illnesses over many years and ultimately succumbed to the toil.

Don was born on January 29, 1947 in Akron, Ohio. The family moved to Tennessee in 1962, the state he called home. He graduated from Tullahoma High School in 1965 and attended UT Martin in Pulaski, Tenn. His daughter Nicole was born in Nashville, Tenn. in 1976 and was the apple of his eye. 

Don built a career at RockTenn Company, starting in a maintenance role and eventually moving to Dallas, Texas as the general manager of the box manufacturing plant at Waxahachie, Texas. After leaving Texas and moving to Amelia Island, Fla., Don retired in 2012. In retirement he enjoyed “porch-sitting” with his wife, grilling on his Big Green Egg, frequent chats with his daughter, following his grandchildren on Facebook, helping his stepchildren with their businesses, making jewelry, woodworking, and entertaining his dog and constant companion, Delila. In the final years of her life, Don called his mother once, sometimes twice daily. He was a devoted family man until his final days.

Don was a faithful man of God and contributed to many charitable causes. He lived a full and generous life, always offering patience and kind words of encouragement to his family, friends, and neighbors. He will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roberta and Donald E. Vaughn Sr. of Estill Springs, Tenn.

He is survived by his wife, Cynthia M. Vaughn of Fernandina Beach; his daughter, Nicole Vaughn, and granddaughters, Jessica Bond and Alexis Bond, all of Decatur, Ala.; stepchildren, Dawn Landau of Atlanta, Ga., Kevin Burt of Nashville, Tenn., and Johnnie Christian of Decatur, Ala.; step-grandsons, Robert Landau of Atlanta and Michael Christian of Florence, Ala.; and siblings, James Vaughn of Savannah, Ga., Greg Vaughn of Decherd, Tenn., and Deborah Vaughn of Nashville, as well as multiple nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

A Celebration of Life is planned in his beloved state of Tennessee in April.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Cancer Society.

Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Joan Alverson Stover, 93, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Monday, February 11, 2019 at her daughter’s residence.

Born in Oneida, Tenn., she and her husband, Hayes B. Alverson, moved to Fernandina Beach in 1947. She was a homemaker and a longtime member of Memorial United Methodist Church.

At Memorial Methodist, she was active in church life and was a member of the Ladies Circle. She was also a member of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Fernandina Beach and the Garden Club. One of her favorite pastimes was working in her yard and gardening. She also enjoyed shopping and was an avid reader.

Mrs. Stover always enjoyed being around people, and was kept company at home by her cats, Snowball and Millie.

Mrs. Stover was predeceased by her husband, Hayes B. Alverson, in 1976; her daughter, Ginni Alverson, in 1985; and her second husband, Robert Stover, in 1994.

She leaves behind her daughters, Barbara Patton and her husband, Tommy, and Patti Thornton and her husband, Darrell, all of Fernandina Beach; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren.

Graveside funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, February 15, 2019 at Bosque Bello Cemetery with Rev. Allison Pope officiating. She will be laid to rest beside her first husband. The family will receive friends 5-7 p.m. Thursday, February 14, 2019 at Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors.

The family asks donations be made, in her memory, to the Nassau Humane Society, 639 Airport Road, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034.

Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

James Byron (Jim B.) Higginbotham was peacefully called to his heavenly home Friday, February 8, 2019.

Jim was born April 14, 1944 in Fernandina Beach, Fla. He grew up in Hilliard, Fla. and, as a young man, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Jim was baptized at Hilliard Baptist Church. At the time of his passing, he was a Fernandina Beach resident and active member of First Baptist Church of Fernandina Beach, where he sang in the choir while also singing bass in the men’s ensemble A Few Good Men. He loved the Lord and his church family. He wanted to attend services even after he was unable to do so because of his declining health.

Jim graduated from Hilliard High School and was proud to play on the basketball team that brought home the State AA Basketball Championship in 1963. After graduating from Lake City Community College, where he continued to play basketball on an athletic scholarship, he enrolled in Middle Georgia State University in Warner Robbins, Ga.

In 1966, he joined the United States Air Force and was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War, during which he was stationed in the Philippines as an aeronautical mechanic. After returning home from Vietnam, he went to work with Houdaille-Duval-Wright construction company and was the superintendent on the downtown Fernandina Beach Centre Street redesign and building project. After completion, the city of Fernandina Beach offered him the position of director of Public Works. He retired from that position after more than 25 years of service.

He was a die-hard Georgia Bulldog Fan, loved to play golf, enjoyed riding his bike around the island, having late-afternoon coffee with his buddies, indulging in chocolate, and of course his favorite – politics!

Like his father before him, he served three terms as a Nassau County commissioner and was also elected as chairman by his fellow commissioners. He was a highly ethical, honest, kind, intelligent, generous, handsome, loving, outgoing (never met a stranger!), competitive, talented, loyal, adventurous, and funny man's man. He loved his family immensely and his favorite thing to do was to spend time with them. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John B. and Wynelle Davis Higginbotham; his brother, Johnny; stepfather, Carl Wright; and son-in-law, Neil Phelps.

He leaves behind his wife, Carol L. Decker-Higginbotham of Amelia Island, Fla.; his three beloved children, son Barry (Stacey) Higginbotham of  Yulee, Fla., daughter Laran Phelps of Yulee, and daughter Erin (C. J.) Eiras of Jacksonville, Fla.; and his sister, Vivian Armstrong, and brother, Richard (Cathy) Higginbotham, both of Hilliard. Jim also leaves behind his seven beloved grandchildren, Baleigh and Brennan Higginbotham, Ella and Amelia Phelps, and Severiano, Bianca, and Maximus Eiras; and two stepsons, Steve and Mark Decker, along with their families. In addition, he leaves behind many nieces, nephews, close cousins, and lifelong friends, as well as the mother of his three children, Jan R. Spottswood of Jacksonville.

A memorial service to celebrate Jim’s life and legacy will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 16, 2019 at First Baptist Church at 1600 S. Eighth St. in Fernandina Beach.

Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.

If so desired, donations may be made in Jim’s memory to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors

Barry Dee Farris, 57, of Yulee, Fla., passed away February 6, 2019 at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla.

Born in Jacksonville, Fla. to Bill Harvey and the late Vivian Irene Farris, he was a 48-year resident of Fernandina Beach and graduated from Fernandina Beach High School before serving in the U.S. Army (three years active and three years inactive). After the Army, he worked as a painter. He loved sports and fishing as well as the Florida Gators and Miami Dolphins. He was of the Baptist faith.

In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by a brother, Jay Kember Farris.

He is survived by his daughter, Jamie (Kyle) Rehberg, and son, Sean Farris; grandchildren, Xavier Waller and Harrison Behberg; his father, Bill Harvey Farris, and stepmother, Lucy Farris; brother, Edwin Farris; sister, Donna Farris; nephews, Joshua (Lea Mitchel) Morgan of Middleburg, Fla., and Austin Morgan of Yulee; great-niece, Ava Morgan; great-nephew, Braden Morgan; two of his closest friends, Joe Mayley and Kenny Castle; and very loving friend and caregiver, Sharon Crews Ranson.

A Celebration of Life will be held at noon February 23, 2019 at the Amelia Woods Clubhouse, located at 2700 Mizell St. in Fernandina Beach.

Mr. Leroy Davis, 77, of Folkston, Ga., passed away Sunday, February, 10, 2019 at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla.

He was born March 5, 1941 in Sparks, Ga. to the late Arlie and Beatrice (Lamb) Davis.

He grew up in Georgia and was employed by Gilman Paper Company, starting out in 1960 as a floor sweeper and moving up in the ranks to printing in the Kraft Bag Division in 1963. In the mid-1970s, his job with Gilman Paper sent him to St. Louis, Mo. to run the print department as the manager. In the early 1980s, he relocated to Fernandina Beach, Fla. when the company sent him back to their St. Marys, Ga. location. After Gilman closed down, he worked for Simplex Paper in Jacksonville, Fla. as their print manager until they closed in 1998. Mr. Davis became a truck driver for US Express Truck Lines until his retirement in 2003.

Mr. Davis loved his family and worked hard to provide for them. He enjoyed going fishing, and he would give his last dollar to anyone in need.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Warren Lee Davis Sr. and David Leland Davis; and brother, Arlie Ben Davis Jr.

He leaves behind his daughter, Joan (Marcel) Pierrain of Folkston, Ga.; son, Aaron Ben Davis of Kingsland, Ga.; siblings, Betty Jo Colson of Yulee, Fla., Helen Thrift of Yulee, and Niearl Schultheiss of Stuart, Fla.; grandsons, Warren Lee Davis Jr., Jeremy Hendricks, and Nathan Hendricks; great-grandchildren, Isaiah Davis, Payton Hendricks, and Taquan Pierrain; and former wife, Sharon Davis of Kingsland.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, February 14, 2019 in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard Funeral Home in Fernandina Beach with Mr. Marcel Pierrain officiating.

The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the hour of the service at the funeral home.

Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.

Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors