Calvin Henley Jr.
Calvin E. Henley Jr., “Little Calvin”, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, at Shands Hospital, Gainesville from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was of the Pentecostal faith and attended the Sampson City Church of God. He was known as an excellent fisherman and enjoyed spending time outdoors. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Calvin Henley Sr. and Helen Henley; brothers, Charles and Stephen Henley; and nephew, Justin Hardenbrook.
He is survived by his companion Elizabeth “Liz” Payne; his brother, Everett (Blanche) Henley; his sisters, Sheila (Sam) Bassett, Jeanne Peacock, Marolyn (Dale) Bradley, and Carolyn (Mark) Hardenbrook; his children, Tammy (Robert) Joyce, Tasha (Michael) Holloway, Charles David Henley and Tabetha Ehlert; 11 grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held graveside at Crosby Lake Cemetery in Starke on Friday, Dec. 23, at 1:30 pm with the Rev. Gene Bass officiating. All relatives and friends are welcome.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Archer-Milton Funeral Home of Lake Butler. 386-496-2008 www.archerfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY
Franklin Matthews
Franklin “Frank” Lee Matthews, 83, of Keystone Heights passed away at his home Monday, Dec. 13, 2022. He was born Aug. 17, 1939, in Salem Township, Ohio to the late Obil E. and Sylvia (Davis) Matthews. Prior to his retirement, he was employed with the City of Jacksonville Fire Department for 35 years. He was a master carpenter and enjoyed bird carving, boat building, and photography.
He is survived by his wife of 53.5 years, Camille (Wansley) Matthews; and their children, Franklin L. Matthews II, Kelly M. West, and Joshua D. Matthews. He was also lovingly called “Papa” by eight grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 19, at Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gary Shilling officiating. Interment followed at the Keystone Heights Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home, 340 E. Walker Drive, Keystone Heights, 32656. 352-473-3176. www.jonesgallagherfh.com
PAID OBITUARY
Lonita McGill
Lonita Frances Roberts McGill, 90, of Lake Butler passed away on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. She was born on June 5, 1932, in Ocala to George Wesley Roberts and Fay Fagan Roberts. She graduated from Alachua High School in 1949 and from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1953 and a master’s degree in 1966. She married William (Bill) McGill of Lake Butler in Alachua on March 23, 1952. They lived most of their married life in Lake Butler. She was a teacher for over 35 years. Most of her career was spent teaching mathematics at Union County High School in Lake Butler. The exceptions were a year she and Bill taught in High Springs, and a year she and Bill taught in Guantanamo, Cuba. She was respected and appreciated by her students and fellow faculty members. She had a significant impact on the lives of many students in Union County. She and Bill retired in 1989 and traveled the country and the world. They were members of the New River Ramblers and were always off in their motor home to their next adventure in the U. S. and Canada. Their world trips and tours took them to Europe, Israel, Australia, and New Zealand. She loved to paint, read, and play cards and games. Most of all, she loved being with her family and grandchildren. She would plan cruises for her family (19 total) to destinations in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, Bermuda, Cuba and Canada, in addition to beach holidays in Florida and Georgia. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Lake Butler for almost 70 years. She was also a member of the Lake Butler Women’s Club for over 60 years. She and Bill were active in Lake Butler with church, school, veterans and community events up until recent years. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill; her son-in-law, William (Bill) Warrick; sister, Dottie Roberts; brother, George Roberts; and sister-in-law, Jean Hitchcock Roberts.
Survivors include daughters, Lindy Warrick of Williamsburg, Virginia and Jeanne (Don) Ternier of Houston, Texas; sons, Jack (Sheri) McGill of Orlando and Tim (Teri) McGill of Augusta, Georgia; sister-in-law, Mary Sue McGill Mosby, of Canton, Mississippi; nine grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Lake Butler. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Donations can be given in lieu of flowers to the Bill McGill mission fund at Lake Butler First Baptist Church.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Archer-Milton Funeral Home in Lake Butler. www.archerfuneralhome.com 386-496-2008.
PAID OBITUARY
Virginia McLendon
Virginia Lee McLendon, 86, of Waldo, went to her heavenly home on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, at Magnolia Ridge Rehabilitation Center in Gainesville. She was born in O’Brien on July 7, 1936, to the late Wayne Leroy Lee and Alma Webb Lee. She was raised in Suwannee County and graduated from Suwanee County High School in 1954. She met and dated her best friend, Darrell McLendon, before he was drafted into the United States Army. Upon his return, she and Darrell were happily married on July 3, 1955, and enjoyed 60 amazing married years together. In 1957, they made Waldo their forever home and became members of the First Baptist Church of Waldo. She proudly served as a school cafeteria manager at Waldo Community School where she worked for 20 years until retiring. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother, who cherished her family the most, but had a passion for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She and her family also loved worshiping the Lord and listening to gospel music. For years they traveled to listen to “The Inspirations” gospel group and even planned family vacations around gospel singing. In her spare time, she enjoyed sewing, quilting, crafts and cooking. She made her children’s clothing for years. They were always made with special love. She will be truly missed by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Darrell McLendon; brother, Jerry Lee; sister, Loiselle Standridge; sister-in-law, Gladys Lee; and brother-in-law, Elmer Standridge.
She is survived by her children, Debbie (Glenn) Gay of Starke, and Eddie (Tiffani) McLendon of Newberry; brothers, Edward “Buddy” (Helen) Lee of Luraville, Terry Lee of Tallahassee, and Leroy (Diane) Lee of Live Oak; sisters, Edna ( Craig ) Elixson of Worthington Springs, Lynette Blankenship of Live Oak,; her six grandchildren, Lena (Bobby) Fulton, Michelle (Daren) Whitehead, Darrell (Jana Hammet) McLendon, Mehgan (Kyle) Wilson, Cody Thomas, and Tristian (Violet) Hester; and her great-grandchildren, Remy Wilson and Elena Whitehead.
A Celebration of Life was held on Wednesday, Dec. 21, at First Baptist Church of Waldo with Reverend Jim DuBois officiating. Interment followed at Dedan Cemetery in Brooker.
Arrangements were under the care and direction of V. Todd Ferreira Funeral Services and Archie Tanner Memorial Chapel, Starke. 904-964-5757. Visit www.archietannerfuneralservices.com to sign the family’s guest book.
PAID OBITUARY
