Obituaries 10/12/17

Mary Ann Edmondson Bresee
Mary Ann Edmondson Bresee, passed away on October 1, 2017 in Tiger, Georgia. She was born in Atlanta, October 16, 1932 to Ray & Mary Edmondson. Her grandfather and grandmother were Rev. and Mrs. Robert A. Edmondson. Her other grandfather was Walter T. Candler, son of Asa G. Candler who was the founder of the Coca-Cola Co. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Mary, and her husband Arthur. She is survived by her brother, Bob, of Dillard, Ga., sister Laura, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and her sister Eugenia (Bill), of Deland, Fla. and many nephews and their families. She graduated from Washington Seminary where she was captain of the basketball team and editor of the 50th anniversary of the annual. She also attended Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchberg, Virginia. She joined the Junior League of Atlanta and held many posts. She was a volunteer Red Cross Nurse’s Aide at Grady Hospital.
She was “Miss Mary” on the Romper Room and had many exciting times on the air. When her husband was transferred to Jacksonville she transferred her Jr. League membership and did the puppets at the Children’s Museum for many years. She was also a docent at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. They were members of Lakewood United Methodist Church where she taught the Cherub Chior and a Sunday School for the mentally handicapped people of the area. When they moved to Orange Park, she was a member of the Orange Park United Methodist Church for many years and was a member of the Altar Guild and a Stephen Member. Later she joined High Point Community Church and was a member of the Care Ministry. At this time, she began collecting snuff bottles and enjoyed going on many over-seas trips with the Snuff Bottle Society. Her bottles were displayed at the Cummer Gallery and at the Norton Gallery in Palm Beach. She loved playing tennis at the Club Continental and played there for twenty plus years. The friends she made there were always dear to her heart. She taught reading to adults for many years and enjoyed meeting new people whom she taught to read.
She belonged to a book club and always enjoyed many books as evidenced by the many books in her house. A memorial service will be held on October 12th 2017 at 2 p.m. at the Clayton United Methodist Church. Beck Funeral Home, in Clayton, Ga., is in charge of the arrangements. If there are any questions, please call 706-782-9599. An online Memorial Register Book is available at www.beckfuneralhome.com.

Carol (Anne) Larson Vallencourt
Mrs. Carol (Anne) Larson Vallencourt, 69, long-serving former Chair of the Clay County School Board and prominent Orange Park civic leader, died Saturday, Oct. 7 in Orange Park after a long illness. Mrs. Vallencourt, of Orange Park, was a school board member from 1990 to 2010, elected five times as the Chair and worked with four different superintendents and 12 different board members. Under her guidance, the school district saw explosive growth during the rapid development of the suburban Jacksonville county.
She was actively involved in many public, private and civic roles, among others: 43 years as a volunteer at her parish, St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church in Orange Park; a board member of the Clay County Dye YMCA, and of Clay Behavioral Health Center, a provider of mental health and substance abuse counseling. She was also appointed to the State Regional Planning Board by then Gov. Jeb Bush, on which she served on for several years. Mrs. Vallencourt also was active in Florida state educational circles, serving as Chair of the Florida School Board Association’s Board Development Committee. For her service, the group awarded her its Lifetime Achievement Award. She is a former supervisor for Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Surviving her is her husband of nearly 46 years, Francis R. Vallencourt, executive vice president of Vallencourt Construction Co. Other survivors include her daughters, Sandra (Tony) Damron, Renee (Walter) Walding and Christine (Thomas) Loveland; a brother, Robert J. Larson; a sister, Jane Larson Davis; seven grandchildren and nine cousins.
She will be greatly missed as a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. Visitation will be on Wednesday Oct 11, 2017 from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. followed by a vigil service to include family and friends’ remembrances of Mrs. Vallencourt. A Mass of Christian Burial in celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, October 12, 2017 at St. Catherine Catholic Church with Rev. James R. Boddie Jr., Celebrant. Pallbearers are Michael Vallencourt II, Daniel Vallencourt, David Vallencourt, Robert Davis, Walter Walding Jr. and Matt Ford. Interment will be at Jacksonville Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please donate on her behalf to the Clay County Education Foundation, 900 Walnut St., Green Cove Springs, FL 32043.

Frederick D. Sweringen
Frederick D. Sweringen, 78, died August 29, 2017 at his home. He leaves his wife Shirley, his daughter Shannon Sweringen, his sister Patricia Petro of San Juan, Calif. and sister Nancy Davies of Fleming Island. He also leaves several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Fred was born and raised In Youngston, Ohio the son of Mary and Burt Sweringen. He was a soloist for many years starting in school and sang in the church choir as well as performing at weddings and events. After serving four years in the navy, Fred worked for IBM until his retirement. An honor service will be held Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. at the VFW, 2296 Aster Avenue, Middleburg, Fla.


Teresa A. Latino
Teresa A. Latino passed away on Sunday, October 1 ,2017. Aaron and Burney Bivens Funeral Home, 529 Kingsley Ave., Orange Park, Fla. 32073, (904) 264-1233.

Estelle Coward
Estelle Coward, 96, of Orange Park, Fla. passed away October 4, 2017 Russell Haven of Rest Cemetery, Funeral Home and Cremation Center 2335 Sandridge Rd. Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
904-284-7720 www.RHRFH.com

John Lawrence MacNeil
John Lawrence MacNeil, 82, of Green Cove Springs, Fla. passed away October 4, 2017 Russell Haven of Rest Cemetery, Funeral Home and Cremation Center 2335 Sandridge Rd. Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 904-284-7720 www.RHRFH.com

Rev. Jim WhiteRev. Jim White, 70, of Green Cove Springs, Fla. passed away October 4, 2017. Russell Haven of Rest Cemetery, Funeral Home and Cremation Center 2335 Sandridge Rd. Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 904-284-7720 www.RHRFH.com


Constance Ann Rufo
Constance Ann Rufo passed away on Sunday, October 1, 2017. Aaron and Burney Bivens Funeral Home, 529 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, Florida 32073 (904) 264-1233.

Iona Burroughs
Iona Burroughs, 92, of Middleburg, FL, passed away October 8, 2017 Please sign the family’s guestbook at www.broadusraines.com
BROADUS-RAINES FUNERAL HOME, 501 Spring St., Green Cove Springs, FL (904) 284-4000