The Beaches Leader

Benjamin Theodore Pace Jr. 79 years old, loving husband and father is survived by his wife Connie of 58 years, passed on September 14, 2022 at Memorial Hospital. Ben was born December 26, 1942 at St. Vincent's Riverside in Jacksonville, Fl. A graduate of Englewood High School class of 1960. Ben is a 20 year veteran of the US Air Force retiring as a Master Sargent. He has retired from FSCJ. He was an Elder at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Regency Congregation. He is preceded in death by his daughter Tammy Bennett. Ben is survived by his son, Todd (Sheila) in Jacksonville Beach, Fl. He has two grandsons Alex Pace graduate of Fletcher Class of 2017, and Jon Pace graduate of...

Mildred Juanita (Nita) Ervin, 91, of Jacksonville Beach, Fl, went to her Heavenly home Jan. 20, 2022, at Baptist Medical Center Beaches, in Jacksonville Beach, Fl. She was born to the late Brondell Robert & Mildred Earnestine Yarborough, Aug. 28, 1930 in Atlanta, Ga. Employed by Department of Commerce prior to marrying in 1949, and after raising two children, she worked as a sales representative for a temporary employment agency and held a Real Estate license. Nita enjoyed traveling with her family throughout America, including Hawaii, three trips to Alaska, and many locations outside the US. She enjoyed years of camping trips, in their motorhomes, with her husband, daughter and...

Roberta Morris Parsons passed away on July 10, 2021 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida at the age of 100. She is survived by her three children, Louise Ponder (Larry) of Jacksonville Beach, Florida; Robert Parsons of Salisbury; Robbie Respess (Randy) of Ellicott City. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Katherine Ponder, Scott Ponder (Dana), Laura Kaspar (Robin), Rob Parsons (Christy), Andy Eckert (Amy), Ann Aguirre (Charlie) and Julie Kilcur (Patrick), and 26 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert W. Parsons. A funeral service will be held on Monday, July 26, 2021, at 11:30 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 115 St. Peter's Street, Salisbury, MD 21801...

Emerson III, Albert "Boyd", age 75 of Neptune Beach, passed away on Monday, June 14, 2021. Boyd is survived by his former wife, April Emerson and their sons, Daniel Emerson (Lauren) and Guy Emerson, grandchildren, Elle and Owen Emerson, siblings, Edward "Buddy" Emerson (Karen), Linda Emerson, and Jackie Emerson Knight (Jimmy). He is preceded in death by his father, Albert Emerson Jr., mother, Erma Emerson, and sister, Irma Jeanne Emerson Heckman. A born and bred Jaxson and a '64 graduate of NBFHS, Boyd spent the wild days of his youth surfing in California during the summers and skiing in Colorado during the winters before eventually moving to Minnesota to raise a family. He was happiest at...

Mr. George Philip "Phil" Watkiss, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, passed from this life into God's eternal arms on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at Southwest Christian Care surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Watkiss was born on November 24, 1945 in Jacksonville, FL to the late Dr. George E. Watkiss and Mary Bishop Watkiss. He served our country faithfully in the United States Army and is a distinguished and decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. After his return from Vietnam, Mr. Watkiss attended Jacksonville University where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Marketing then went on to the University of North Florida where he studied Transportation and Logistics and...

William O. Johnson Sr., USN (Retired) passed away at the age of 84 years old on Sunday May 2, 2021. He was born Wilmington, DE on Nov. 20, 1936 to parents Owen and Florence Johnson. William (Bill) served in the U.S. Navy for 22 years. He did one tour of duty in Korea and two tours in Vietnam. William retired as a Master Chief. After retiring from the Navy, he worked as a Dispatcher for the City Atlantic Beach Police Dept. for one year. He then was employed as the Power Plant Manager at Regency Square Mall and later became the Operations Manager and there for 22 years. Bill enjoyed bowling and traveling with his wife Joanna. He loved his children and grandchildren and spending time...

Born in Guines, Cuba to Catalina Rodriguez and Juan Rodriguez. She is from a family of eight brothers and sisters. She is preceded in death by her husband, Armando Jack Chao, (Tampa, Florida) of 59 1/2 years. They met and married in Cuba, December 3, 1941, four days before the attack on Pearl Harbor. She lived in Jacksonville Beach until her death. Benita is survived by her two daughters, Vivian Chao Merritt and Esther Sugarman (Steve), two sisters, Hortensia Conklin of Miami and Maria Amelia Rodriguez of Havana, Cuba, one brother, Eliodoro Rodriguez, (Dulce) Cuba, granddaughters Heather Correia, Lydia Roberts, Cathleen Collett, one grandson Shane Merritt, great grandsons, Chase Merritt,...

Carolyn "Carrie" Cloud (Tiemann) - Carrie Cloud, 77, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, passed away on January 15, 2021, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, from COVID-19 complications. On Friday, February 5, 2021, the family of Carrie will be receiving friends and family from 4:00 - 5:00 pm with a short Memorial Service beginning at 5:00. A livestream of the entire service may be accessed at the funeral home website of Ponte Vedra Valley, directly on Carrie's obituary page: https://www.pontevedravalley.com/obituaries/carolyn-cloud. Carrie's wishes were to be cremated. Her ashes will be scattered with her husband's, Duane Cloud, in the Florida Keys so they can go...

Robert Allison "Al" Platt, 93, most recently of Acworth, GA, passed away at home in his sleep on Saturday, December 12, 2020, surrounded by his three sons. Al was born on May 18, 1927 in Lakeland, FL to Thomas Fenton Platt, Sr. and Mamie Drew (Allison) Platt. Following his father's death that same year, his mother moved he and his older brother to Daytona Beach. He graduated from Daytona Mainland High School in 1945 and accepted a football scholarship to the University of Florida. After a single semester he was called into active duty in the Army Air Corps as an enlisted man, serving two years. He reentered UF, was member of PI Kappa Alpha social fraternity and graduated with a BS degree in...

Teresa Ann Hall Turner, 65, of Jacksonville, Florida received her Angel Wings on Thursday, October 8, 2020. Teresa was born in Detroit, Michigan on April 13, 1955 and spent her childhood in Portsmouth, Ohio. She loved the snow. Building snowmen and snowball fights were a joyful time for her. She loved being around the beautiful winter trees. As a teenager in Jacksonville, Florida she loved the beach and sunbathing. Teresa married Richard L. Turner on February 9, 2005 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Together they shared a life of love and happiness. They traveled together and spent time in different states, including Alaska, enjoying new experiences and people. Teresa's greatest joy was her...

Jeanne Vance Atkinson, age 95, left this world surrounded by her family at home in Jacksonville Beach on Sunday, September 6, 2020. The youngest of four children, she was born on October 16, 1924, in Dawes, West Virginia to Robert Vance and Iva Lee (Bennett) Vance. In 1951 Jeanne married Charles Wesley (Charlie) Atkinson, and they moved with their daughter Kasey to Jacksonville Beach in 1959. The family joined Beach United Methodist Church where they were active members for over 50 years. An avid supporter of the church in a variety of ways, Jeanne was especially dedicated to singing in the choir. Jeanne sang in the church from the time she was 3 years old when the pastor would announce,...

Anna Ruth Cianci, 72, of St. Petersburg, passed away on May 26, 2020, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born on March 16, 1948 in Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated Florida State University in 1970 and subsequently received a Master's Degree from the University of Georgia. Her 35 year career included work as Parole & Probation Officer, and as a School Social Worker. Anna Ruth's kindness and generosity were known to all. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg for 45 years. During her retirement, she gave generously of her time to Guardian Ad Litum and other causes. She loved to travel. She loved talking to people and never...

It is with great sadness that the family of Louise Schaffer Johnson announces her sudden passing on Sunday, April 19, 2020, at the age of 59. Louise will be lovingly remembered by her mother, Geraldine; children, Chad (Rachel), and Cricket (Philip); she will also be fondly remembered by her three grandchildren, Hudson, Hadley Grace, and Hanes; sister, Michele (Nicky); brother, Arthur (Beverly); and sister-in-law, Miren. Louise was predeceased by her father, Charles J. Schaffer. Louise was born in Philadelphia, PA, and spent most her life Cherry Hill, NJ. She attended Chestnut Hill College and Ohio Wesleyan University. Louise had made a successful career for herself in the corporate world at...

Frederick William McNabb Jr., 87, died Friday, February 21, 2020, following a long battle with Alzheimer's. He leaves his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth; sons, F. William III (Katie), Mark (Sue), Rob (Setsuko); daughters, Mary (George) and Trish; 14 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Fred was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, on November 24, 1932, and grew up primarily in Hartford, Connecticut. Always a top student, he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Rochester in 1954, where he met his wife, Betsy. Fred attended Yale Law School, which was interrupted by a two-year stint in the US Air Force. He served in The Office of Special Investigations, rising to the rank of Captain....

Lou Ann Swann, 70, of Jacksonville Beach, FL, passed away January 26, 2020. She was born March 22, 1949 in Waterloo, IA to Robert and Regina (Jean) Scharnweber. She graduated from Columbus High School in 1967. Lou Ann later attended Florida State College Jacksonville. She was married to Army Captain Monte Swann and they later divorced. With that union she had a son, Brandon. Lou Ann spent years in the hospitality and airline industry with Delta Air Lines, British Airways, Nassau Paradise Island Express, Continental Airlines, and Deloitte Travel. She was one of the original supporters of Beaches Soccer Association and served on its Board of Directors as Vice President. Lou Ann was...

Elizabeth Nader, 79, of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, passed away January 2, 2020. She was born March 30, 1940, in Marshal, TX, to Thomas and Frances McKiel. Elizabeth was a longtime employee of Nader's Pest Raiders. The family would like to thank Frances Morris for her exceptional and loving care of their mom. Elizabeth is survived by her husband, Raymond; children, Ray Nader, JR., Randy (Kimberly) Nader, Natalie Nader, and Russell (Julie) Nader; grandchildren, Elizabeth, Jaynie, and Trey Nader, Lyndsay and Samantha Nader, Elisabeth Cavallaro and Marcella Cavallaro (Nathan) Carpenter, Haley, Chloe and Russell Nader, II. Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Viola Harper; and...

Richard Lee "Dick" McMeekin was born in Malden, Massachusetts on November 23, 1930. He met the love of his life, Ruth Virginia, while working at the Pentagon and married her at the age of 20. Dick served for 21 years in the United States Navy and retired as a Lieutenant after traveling all over the world. In the Navy he taught English to the Turkish and Italians he worked with and picked up multiple languages in the process. Dick was always quite the entertainer. He had learned piano by ear from the age of 3 and was known well as a composer, musician, and entertainer whose professional career included audiences from across the globe including the Roman Music Festival in Italy (he was the 1st...

Robert "Bob" Howell Rankin, 75, passed away July 2, 2019, after a long illness surrounded by his loving family. He graduated from Jacksonville University and served as a Naval Officer for over 30 years. During that time, he was the commanding officer of the USS Underwood FFG-36, USS Samuel Gompers AD-37 and CTF 53. Bob is survived by his wife, Joanna Rankin; brother, John Joseph Rankin; children, Elizabeth Ann Rankin Seymour, James Robert Rankin, Jennifer Lynn Rankin Sargeant, John Andrew Rankin; and ten grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 19, at the Beach Church in Jacksonville Beach with a reception to follow at Sawgrass County Club. Please sign...