John Britton
John Davis “Grandad” Britton, 97, of Keystone Heights, passed away Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, at Roberts Care Center in Palatka. He was born in Greenville, Tennessee, Aug. 11, 1925, to William Roy and Mary Emily “Molly” (Davis) Britton. He was a proud World War II veteran, serving from 1943 with the 97th Division Army Units XVII and XVIII, and was honorably discharged from active duty in 1946, and from inactive duty in 1949. Prior to retirement, he was employed with United Electric in Jacksonville as a journeyman electrician for 43 years. In retirement he loved gardening and visiting his family and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Helen F. (Dugger) Britton; two brothers; five sisters; and special friends, Clifford and Minnie Johns.
He is survived by two sons and their spouses, James (Sheila) Britton and Michael (Carol) Britton; grandchildren and their spouses, Lisa Kay (Michael) Moss, Amy (Michael) Mendoza, and Mathew Britton; along with great-grandchildren, Darrin Willette Jr., Alivia Kay Willette, Mary Katherine Bessent, Magdalena Mendoza, Cassandra Mendoza; and a host of friends (He said everyone he met was special.)
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Feb. 7, at Hope Baptist Church with Brother Ron Kimbrell and Dr. Larry Strickland officiating. Graveside services and internment followed at Keystone Heights Cemetery.
Arrangements were by Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home, 340 E. Walker Drive, Keystone Heights, 32656. 352-473-3176. www.jonesgallagherfh.com
PAID OBITUARY
Grace Buckley
Grace Noma Buckley, 91, of Keystone Heights (formerly of Starke), passed away Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023 at St. Vincent’s Riverside Hospital. She was born on July 4, 1931 in Raiford to the late Marion and Martha (Wilkinson) Crews. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Starke and a member of their PieceMakers Prayer Quilt Ministry. She loved children and taught Sunday school at various churches for over 45 years. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, crocheting, and playing her piano, but her greatest joy was spending time with her family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Gary “Buck” Buckley; siblings, Delyne (Bobby) Pearson, Esther (Bill) Harrell, Frank Crews, M. L. (Inez) Crews Jr. and Herbert (Irene) Crews.
Survivors are her children, Martha Buckley (Stan) Boyette of Starke, Linda Buckley (David) Carter of Keystone Heights; her sister, Sarah Albert of Jacksonville; and her sister-in-law, Winnie Crews of Starke. Also left are her grandchildren, Blake (Casey) Thomas of Keystone Heights, Lisa (Javier) Brito of Jacksonville Beach, Monica (Philip) Pombier of Jacksonville Beach, Thomas Boyette of Lake Butler, and Shawn (Brittany) Boyette of Lake Butler; 10 great- grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at the DeWitt C. Jones Chapel on Thursday, Feb. 9, 1 p.m. with interment following in Long Branch Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home of Starke, 904-964-6200 www.jonesgallagherfh.com.
PAID OBITUARY
Alice Dawkins
Alice Carlene Dawkins, 80, of Starke, passed away peacefully at home in the arms of her loving husband on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. She was born Nov. 24, 1942 in Alamo, Wheeler County, Georgia. She was raised in Starke and attended Bradford High School until 1959. Shortly after high school, she met the love of her life, Robert George Dawkins, while working at the Mary Carter Paint Store, and the two of them were married in Nahunta, Georgia in 1962. Together they shared 60 beautiful years. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, who loved her family deeply, and, in her spare time, she enjoyed tending to her family as a homemaker, sewing, listening to (and singing) old-time gospel music, and Elvis Presley. In her later years she enjoyed sitting on her back porch with her husband and watching birds, but most of all, she loved her family and having them around her, and she always put them first. She was preceded in death by her parents, the late Howard A. Coleman and Gladys Ruth Coleman.
She is survived by her loving husband, Robert George Dawkins of Starke; children, Robert (Kathy) Dawkins of Starke; Joe (Birgit Williams) Dawkins of Ocala; brother, Alton (Marlene) Coleman; sisters, Hazel (Gene) Bass and Sandra (J. W.) Crawford all of Starke; grandchildren, Drake (Ashley) Dawkins, Zylen Dawkins, and Stephen Williams; as well as many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.
A remembrance service in her memory will be announced at a later date.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of V. Todd Ferreira Funeral Services and Archie Tanner Memorial Chapel, Starke.
PAID OBITUARY
Barbara Griffis
Barbara Richie Griffis, a resident of Gresham, Oregon went to be with our Lord on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. She was born on June 13, 1932. She moved to Starke with her parents and brother when her father retired from the Navy. She met and married Gerald D Griffis in 1949, living the majority of her life at Camp Blanding on Kingsley Lake, until Gerald retired after 36.5 years. She loved First Christian Church, her home church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald; parents, Carl and Marbury Richie; and brother, Donald.
She is survived by sons Dan C. (Gloria) Griffis of Gate City, Virginia and Jerry E. (Barb) Griffis of Gresham, Oregon; grandchildren, Dr. Danny (Jen) Griffis of Anchorage, Alaska, Jeremy (Tisha) Griffis of Gate City, Virginia, Kelly Griffis of Sherwood, Oregon. and Kyle (Meagan) Griffis of Gresham, Oregon; and great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Abbie, Sabrina, Colter, Georgia, Monique, Damien, Zane, Laurel, and Boone.
Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life at First Christian Church, Starke on Feb. 25, at 11 a.m. A family Internment of Barbara & Gerald will be at Longbranch Cemetery.
PAID OBITUARY
Jessica Horn
Jessica Cassandra Horn, 34, of Keystone Heights passed away Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Starke. She was born in Jacksonville on Feb. 19, 1988, to David and Annalisa (Hatten) Phillips. She graduated in the Class of 2006 from Keystone Heights High School and served in the United States Army Reserves. She was employed with Windsor Manor Health and Rehabilitation in Starke as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant and was currently taking American Sign Language classes to obtain her ASL certification. She was a member of the Kol Simcha Messianic Congregation in Gainesville and loved spending time with her daughters and family.
She leaves behind two beautiful daughters, Valiena Horn, 14, and Kaylee Ann Horn, 13; parents, David Arnold and Annalisa Marie (Hatten) Phillips, all of Keystone Heights; three siblings, Mark Phillips of North Carolina, Elizabeth Murphy and Christina Phillips, both of Keystone Heights; maternal grandfather, Jerry Hatten of Texas; and paternal grandmother, Nedra Phillips of Keystone Heights. Also left behind is her fiancé, David Michelle of Keystone Heights; and numerous family members and friends that will miss her dearly.
The family will receive friends Monday, Feb. 13, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the funeral home chapel. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 14, with Rabbi Tony Arroyo officiating. Interment will be at Gadara Cemetery.
Arrangements are by Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home, 340 E. Walker Drive, Keystone Heights, 32656. 352-473-3176. www.jonesgallagherfh.com
PAID OBITUARY
William Lee
William “Bill” H. Lee, 83, of Keystone Heights passed away Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, in Gainesville. He was born Sept. 28, 1938, in Logan, West Virginia to Robert A. and Ruby (Fitzpatrick) Lee, and had proudly served in the United States Air Force. In 1987 he returned to school to earn his bachelor’s of science in nursing degree from the University of Florida. This opened the doors to a career working at the Veterans Hospital in Gainesville and a local nursing home until his retirement. He was an avid Florida Gators fan, and always enjoyed helping others. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Debbie Lee; and six brothers.
His survivors are his wife of nearly 36 years, Jolinda (Wilks) Lee of Keystone Heights; Cindy Lee of Keystone Heights, Rosemary Grant of Wisconsin, Vail Scotland of California, Michael Lee of Lake City, Matthew Richard Lee of Lake Butler; and he was lovingly called “Grandpa” by four grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Justin Brown officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Wounded Worrier Project.
Arrangements are by Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home, 340 E. Walker Drive, Keystone Heights, 32656. 352-473-3176. www.jonesgallagherfh.com
PAID OBITUARY
Frances Norman
Frances C. Norman, 72, of Raiford, went home to be with Jesus on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. She was born on Aug. 4, 1950, in Williston, to Ebb and Nettie Cannon. She was the youngest of 16 children, and she spent her childhood moving around the west coast of Florida as the daughter of a commercial fisherman. She met the love of her life, Stanley, in June of 1966 and they were married the following year. She spent the next 56 years in Raiford, loving him and raising their children to love Jesus. She retired from North East Florida State Hospital after 30 years of faithful service. She enjoyed spending time with her family, camping with her “Hunk of Burnin’ Love,” cruising, and hosting family gatherings, especially Christmas Eve, for many, many years. One of her favorite places to be was out in the yard with her flowers. Her most favorite color for any occasion was red. She loved her Gators, and you could hear her cheering really loud against those “Dawgs.” Her passion was taking care of others, as evidenced by her long career. But, where her caring heart was exhibited most, was in how she took care of her babies and grandbabies. Above all, what defined her was her love for Jesus, His Word and His people. She took I Thessalonians 5:16-18 to heart… “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” She was preceded in death by both parents; and 12 siblings.
She is survived by her husband, Stanley; her children, Randall (Vickie) Norman, Eddie (Suzanne) Norman, and Suzanne (Bo) Warren; her grandchildren, Jay (Jenna), Garrett, Kindsey, Sam, Mason, Colton, Hannah, Tessa and Cale; and her great-grandchildren, Micah, Jed, Holden and Lydia; her siblings, Buddy (Irene) Cannon, Katheryn (Norman) King, and Freddie (Alice) Cannon.
Her Homegoing service was held Wednesday, Feb. 8, at New River NCM Church in Raiford, followed by a graveside service at Pine Grove Cemetery in Raiford.
Arrangements were under the care and direction of Archer-Milton Funeral Home. 386-496-2008 www.archerfuneralhome.com
PAID OBITUARY
