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A life remembered

Community mourns loss of a ‘statesman’

Wesley LeBlanc
Posted 4/25/15

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Larry Lancaster’s funeral was just as he wished – more celebration and singing than sorrow and preaching.

On April 19, more than 150 people gathered in the pews of the …

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A life remembered

Community mourns loss of a ‘statesman’


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Larry Lancaster’s funeral was just as he wished – more celebration and singing than sorrow and preaching.

On April 19, more than 150 people gathered in the pews of the Green Cove Springs United Methodist Church to remember the life of the former educator and Clay County Commissioner. While the sanctuary was filled with sadness, it was also filled with the smiles and laughter of stories passed from those who were a part of Lancaster’s 70-year Clay County journey. And while there was preaching, in which Rev. Rick Douylliez spread the message of Lancaster going home to the Father, there was twice as much singing.

Lancaster wouldn’t have had it any other way.

“What we have decided to do today, is honor Larry’s wishes and have much more singing than preaching,” Douylliez said.

Lancaster’s friend, Clay County Tax Collector Jimmy Weeks and members of the Weeks family, performed more than four songs Lancaster would have wanted to hear, according to Douylliez. The songs spread a message that Lancaster spread throughout his life – God is with you.

Despite the grief those around Lancaster felt, Rev. David Jackson assured guests that he was with the Father.

“We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss and may God grant us peace and grace, but remember, in pain, we may find comfort, sorrow, hope, death and resurrection,” Jackson said. “We will never forget the life of Larry Lancaster and all that he has done.”

Following Jackson, Douylliez shared some stories about Lancaster, who he had known since he was once a student at the school where Lancaster taught American History. When they first met, Lancaster was the Dean of Boys at Clay High School and Douylliez was a student. Often during lunch, Lancaster would walk through the commons area and simply point at students.

“I was scared of him when I first saw him,” Douylliez said. “Larry always had that serious face, you know, and he would just point and motion somebody to him.

“It appeared to us that his job was to scout out any potential trouble,” Douylliez said.

The student of the day that Lancaster would motion to would be brought down the hallway and out of sight. Later, Douylliez would discover a correlation between those Lancaster motioned to and those who caused trouble. He said he would often see the same kids Lancaster motioned to smoking behind the gym.

“I only took one class of Mr. Lancaster’s during my time at [Clay High School] but he nurtured in me the most profound interest in politics,” Douylliez said. “His passion for democracy, and fair and honest government would earn him the title of a true statesman. Not a politician, but a statesman.”

This interest in politics Douylliez gained from Lancaster came to a quick close when he lost the race for class president. Lancaster saw it coming from a mile away, Douylliez jokingly remarked.

“Son, with a last name like yours, you’re never going to win,” Douylliez remembered Lancaster telling him.

The girl Douylliez lost to appointed him as the student council chaplain the first day of her class presidency.

“To this very day, I’m not so sure that Mr. Lancaster didn’t have something to do with that appointment,” Douylliez said through tears.

Douylliez said Lancaster had a unique sensibility to public service. According to Douylliez, Lancaster was never concerned with the politics per se, but rather, doing the right thing for people. This was the driving force behind each and every one of Lancaster’s achievements in life, he said.

Those achievements include his time served as a teacher and vice principal at Orange Park High School, a short run as a Florida Highway Patrol Officer, and 12 years as a Clay County Commissioner. After that, Lancaster spent his days volunteering for the Clay County Fair Association, the Clay County Cattlemen’s Association, 4-H, the Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch and the Town of Orange Park Planning Committee.

Douylliez finished his time in front of the mic by recalling something Lancaster’s daughter, Rebecca Lynn Minigh, said earlier before calling the pallbearers to the front.

“Your daddy was a gift,” Douylliez said. “Your daddy was a gift to Clay County and to all of us.”