Harold Copeland Jr.
Harold “Lee” Copeland Jr., 72, of Keystone Heights passed away Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Middleburg. He was born April 19, 1950, in Jacksonville to the late Harold Lee and Virginia Mazie (Pritchard) Copeland Sr. He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps, serving two years active and four years in the reserves. Prior to his retirement, he was employed for many years with Motorola Telephone Company, working in their sales and service department. He was of the Church of Christ faith, had a passion for wood working, enjoyed fishing, and was very patriotic.
He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Judy (Capps) Copeland of Keystone Heights; their three children, Harold Lee Copeland III of Mt. Pleasant, North Carolina, Cynthia Ann Copeland of Jacksonville, and Jamie Lynn (Jordon) Spaulding of Middleburg; two brothers, Wendell Brian Copeland of Red Cross, North Carolina and Keith Bernard Copeland of Keystone Heights; and a sister, Darlene Owens of Oklahoma. He was lovingly called “Pop-pop” by seven grandchildren and a set of twin great-granddaughters.
A visitation only was held on Tuesday, Sept. 27, in the Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be at a later date.
Arrangements are under the care of Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home, 340 E. Walker Drive, Keystone Heights, 32656. 352-473-3176. www.jonesgallagherfh.com
PAID OBITUARY
Norma Hoffman
Norma Edenfield Hoffman, 89, of Keystone Heights passed away comfortably at her home on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Fort Myers on Sept. 20, 1932, to Ervin E. and Alita (Yomans) Edenfield. She graduated from Ft. Myers High School in 1950 and earned her master’s degree in education with honors from the University of Florida. Prior to retirement from teaching at Gainesville High school, teaching business and vocational skills, she also coordinated the Competency-Based Education (known as CBE), and sponsored F.B.L.A. (Future Business Leaders of America). In 1998, she joined Trinity Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School and was active with the Silver Saints. She was a member of Sisters of The Lake, Red Hat Society and remained very involved in the Altrusa House of Gainesville throughout her career and well into her retirement. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Linda Faye Henderson; and son in-law, John Henderson.
Her survivors include her loving and devoted husband of 72 years, Jerome Hoffman of Keystone Heights; and children, Jay (Glennie) Hoffman of Jupiter and Ervin “Keith” (Lisa) Hoffman of Bonita Springs. She was lovingly called “Nanny” by nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, at Trinity Baptist Church with Pastor Brandon Denmark and Pastor Scott Stanland officiating. Additional services will be held at First Baptist Church of Estero with Pastor Frank Brand officiating at a later date. Entombment will follow at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made to the Altrusa House, 2002 NW 36th Ave., Gainesville, 32605 or to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements are by Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home, 340 E. Walker Drive, Keystone Heights, 32656 www.jonesgallagherfh.com
PAID OBITUARY
Canova Howard
Canova McCall “Coke” Howard, 87, of Lake Butler, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. He was born in Alachua on Oct. 11, 1934, and has been a lifelong resident of Union County. He was married to the love of his life, Shirley O’steen Howard, for 70 long and cherished years. He was a devoted family man, respected businessman, farmer and lifetime member of Harmony Free Will Baptist Church. He was a hard-working businessman from a young age. He and Shirley owned a corner grocery store in front of their family home when they were in their 20s, until it burned down in 1979. In 1976, he founded Ho-Bo Tractor Company, a tractor company still operated today by his sons, John and David, and grandson, Justin. He also owned Howard’s Auto Parts in Lake Butler. Farming and cattle were a deep passion for him, as well as leading and guiding others to find their true paths and follow their hearts. He was an avid hunter and loved the outdoors. He had a passion for telling stories and, boy, they sure could be entertaining and quite colorful. Many people cross our paths in life that we meet and appreciate. Rare are the people we meet that deeply and even profoundly impact our lives; he was definitely one of those men! He was a larger-than-life figure that will be remembered for his devotion to his family, faith and community. His love for his grandchildren is unsurpassed and his work ethic is unmatched. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and loyal customers, but never forgotten. His memory will remain strong through his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Irene and Amos Edge Howard; son, Charles Canvoa Howard; and grandson, Charles “Chuck” Canova Howard.
He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Shirley O’steen Howard of Lake Butler; sister, Mary Frances Howard of Rincon, Georgia; his sons and their wives, Andy (Gigi) Howard, John Carl (Melanie) Howard and David (Ruth Ann) Howard all of Lake Butler; niece, Aimee Howard Cress of Rincon, Georgia; grandchildren, Zeb (Georgie) Howard, Shayna (Kevin) Harrison, Justin (Jessica) Howard, Megan (Jerrod) Perry and Ashton (Kendyl) Willis; 12 great-grandchildren, Tatum, Gage, Graysen, Peyten, Kennon, Blair, Hadley, Piper, JoyDel, Jepson, Drake and Judd.
A funeral service to honor him will be held on Monday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m. at his church, Harmony Free Will Baptist. The family will receive friends for a visitation on Sunday, Oct. 2, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Archer-Milton Funeral Home. He will be laid to rest immediately following the service on Monday at Elzey Chapel Cemetery. Services will be officiated by pastors Larry Clyatt and Bob Brown.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Archer-Milton Funeral Home, Lake Butler. 386-496-2008 www.ArcherFuneralHome.com
PAID OBITUARY
David Meng
David Francis Meng, 69, of Hampton died on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, at his home in Hampton. He was born on Aug. 20, 1953, to the late Francis William Meng and Dolores Meng. He was a lifelong resident of Hampton and graduated from Bradford High School in 1971. He was proceeded in death by his father; and brother, Lawrence Meng.
He is survived by his daughters, Tina (Steve) Meng Brown of Hampton and Carrie (Todd) Meng of Palm Coast; his mother, Dolores Meng of Hampton; two grandsons; two sisters; and five brothers.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of V. Todd Ferreira Funeral Services and Archie Tanner Memorial Chapel, Starke, 904-964-5757.
Gladys Pearce
Gladys “Pat” Pearce, 78, of Sanderson went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022 in Jacksonville. She was born in Lake City on Aug. 2, 1944, to Clarence Tyler and Gladys Cason. She grew up in Ft. White until she moved to Macclenny at the age of 12. She graduated from Baker County High School in 1962 and, in 1964, married the love of her life, Johnny Pearce. The couple moved to Raiford and she began working for the Union County School Board. In 1973, they bought an old homestead in Sanderson, and she called it home for almost 50 years. She went to work for the Department of Corrections in 1978 and worked for over 30 years until her retirement. She loved baking, cooking, camping, and traveling to the mountains. She was a member of the Lake Butler Chapter #40, Order of the Eastern Star. She was a longtime member of Christian Fellowship Temple in Macclenny. She was preceded in death by her father and stepmother, Clarence and Edith Tyler; her mother and stepfather, Gladys and R. L. Griffis; and her sister, Gloria.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Johnny Pearce; son, John Pearce Jr.; and grandson, Corey Pearce, all of Sanderson; brother, Mickey (Gayle) Tyler of Alabama; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive.
A funeral to honor her life was held on Monday, Sept. 26, at her church, Christian Fellowship Temple. She was laid to rest in Pine Grove Cemetery, Raiford. Brother David Thomas and Brother Timmy Thomas officiated her services.
Arrangements were under the care and direction of Archer-Milton Funeral Home, Lake Butler. 386-496-2008. www.ArcherFuneralHome.com
PAID OBITUARY
Lois Thornton
Lois Ann Thornton, 94, of Starke passed away on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022, at her residence with her loving family by her side. She was born in High Springs on July 25, 1928, to the late William Cannon and Lela Thomas Cannon. She was raised in High Springs and relocated to Jacksonville when she married Henry Wilkes in 1945. In the late 1950s, she met Hance Brittain Thornton, and they were happily married in 1958. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great- grandmother and great-great grandmother. She enjoyed her time at the furniture factory, where she served for five years, but her main passion was tending to her family as a homemaker. She also enjoyed making biscuits, planting trees and plants, and raising ducks and chickens. She loved attending church with her son at Raiford Calvary Temple Church of God and was known for her love of praying. She also loved her sweet fur babies. She was loved by many and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Hance Brittain Thornton; her son, Franklin “Frankie” Wilkes; and her brothers, Willard Cannon and Lewis Cannon.
She is survived by her sons, Pete (Shirley) Thornton of Starke, and Rev. Larry (Nancy) Thornton of Lawtey; stepmother, Maggie Stancel Cannon of St. Augustine; brother, Tommy (Sandra) Cannon of Branford; sisters, Ruby Cannon Hunt of Newberry, Velma Cannon (Herman) Creamer of Jacksonville, Ann Cannon of St. Augustine, Lillie Cannon (Greg) Clark of Starke, Thelma Cannon Gibson of Jacksonville; grandchildren, Donna Gail Wilkes, Babo (Tina) Wilkes, Henry (Charlene Darrah) Wilkes, Lonna Wilkes, Jason Wilkes, James (Angela) Thornton, Mary (George) Konkel, Annette (Clint) Everett, Chad (Shelia) Thornton, Brittain Thornton, Shane (Melissa) Thornton, Timmy (Brandi) Thornton; many great- grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life was held Wednesday, Sept. 28, at Raiford Calvary Temple Church of God with Rev. Larry Thornton and Dr. R. Wayne Wright officiating. Interment followed at Pine Grove Congregational Methodist Church Cemetery.
Arrangements were under the care and direction of V. Todd Ferreira Funeral Services and Archie Tanner Memorial Chapel, Starke. 904-964-5757. Visit www.ferreirafuneralservices.com to sign the family’s guest book.
PAID OBITUARY
