Obituaries-O
CRAWFORDVILLE - Anthony T. O'Buck, 82, who retired from the Florida Department of Labor, died Wednesday, November 7, 2007, in Tallahassee. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Edna C. O'Buck. A private funeral service will be held at Tallahassee Memory Gardens at the convenience of the family. Abbey-Riposta Funeral Home is handling arrangements (850-562-1518). Mr. O'Buck will be remembered as a loving family man. He is also survived by a son, Thomas "Mike" O'Buck (and wife Carol); two daughters, Judy Fields and Jerry Stafford (and husband William); and three grandsons, all of Crawfordville. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 11/8/2007.
CRAWFORDVILLE - Gertrude D. "Dot" Oaks, 92, a retired clerk, died Thursday, Nov. 24, 2005. The service will be at 11 a.m. EST Monday at Crawfordville First Baptist Church, with burial at Arran Cemetery. Harvey-Young Funeral Home (850-926-3333) is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Florida Baptist Childrens Home, 8415 Buck Lake Road, Tallahassee, FL 32317, or Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308. She was an active member of Crawfordville First Baptist Church and retired as a clerk from Wakulla Drug Store and Rehwinkel General Store. Survivors include a son, William Dan Oaks (and wife Barbara) of Crawfordville; two daughters, Betty Jo Green of Crawfordville and Sally Hirschmann (and husband Jack) of Port Ludlow, Wash.; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat from 11/26/2005 - 11/27/2005.
OCHLOCKONEE BAY - Ora Strickland Oaks, 87, the co-founder and operator of Oaks Restaurant in Panacea from 1953 to April 2000, died Wednesday, March 10, 2004. The graveside service will be at 3 p.m. EST Saturday at Lake Ellen Cemetery in Medart. Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. EST today at Harvey-Young Funeral Home in Crawfordville (926-3333). Memorial contributions may be made to Wakulla County Senior Citizens Council, 33 Michael Drive, Crawfordville, FL 32327, or Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308. The daughter of Homer Glover Strickland and Evalee White Strickland, she was born in Wakulla County in 1916. Those who knew her will forever be touched by her wit, undying spirit and legendary kindness. Her business acumen was extraordinary, as evidenced by her success in co-founding the Oaks Restaurant and Motel with husband, Alton Oaks in 1953. The Oaks seafood was a staple of North Florida for 50 years. Whether she was making the best buttermilk biscuits ever made or watching after her grandchildren around her Medart home, her kind heart and loving touch were always present and will always be remembered. She is survived by a son, Clayton Oaks Sr. (and wife Anne) of Tallahassee; two daughters, Evalinda Lobdill of Ochlockonee Bay and Sonja Lynn Hendrickson (and husband Jeff) of Bonifay; two sisters, Opal Mobley of Thomasville, Ga., and Muriel Simpson of Tallahassee; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 3/12/2004.
CRAWFORDVILLE: Verdie Eubanks Oaks, 80, of Crawfordville died Monday, September 16, 1991, at Wakulla Manor in Medart. The service will be at 4:30 pm at Friendship Baptist Church with burial at Lake Ellen Cemetery. She was a lifelong resident of Wakulla County. She was a homemaker and a member of Friendship Baptist Church. Survivors include two sons, James Norris of Birmingham, Ala., and Roger Lee of Herndon, Va.; two daughters, Helen Whaley of Crawfordville and Annette Jackson of Tallahassee; two brothers, Truman Gray and Floyd Gray, both of Medart; a sister, Christine Crum of Sopchoppy; 16 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. (Harvey-Young Funeral Home) Published in the Tallahassee Democrat.
Rolland Bertram Oberhardt, 74, a retired employee who had worked for the Department of Management Services for the state of Florida, died Saturday, Dec. 28, 2002. He is survived by his wife, Doris Oberhardt. The service will be at 11 a.m. EST today at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Riggins Road Chapel (877-8191), with burial at Roselawn Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308-5428. He was a veteran of the Korean War and member of First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee. Additional survivors include two daughters, Kristi Thomas (and husband Greg) of Panacea and Amy Oberhardt of Alachua; a sister, Lorianne Kelly of Pelham, N.Y.; a niece, Heather Woodburn (and husband Woody) of Olney, Md.; and two grandsons, Zachary Thomas and William Thomas, both of Panacea. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat from 12/29/2002 - 12/31/2002.
LAKE CITY - D.B. "Hayes" Odom, 85, died Tuesday, March 6, 2007. Funeral services for Mr. Odom will be conducted at 3 p.m. EDT Sunday at the First United Methodist Church, with Dr. John H. Green and the Rev. Jeffery Tate officiating. Interment will follow at Memorial Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 5 to 7 p.m. EST today at Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home (386-752-1954) at 3596 S. U.S. Highway 441, Lake City. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 973 S. Marion Ave., Lake City, FL 32025, or Haven Hospice of the Suwannee Valley, 6037 Highway 90 West, Lake City, FL 32055. A guestbook is at www.gatewayforestlawn.com. Born in McDavid on July 28, 1921, Mr. Odom graduated from Jasper High School in 1939. During World War II he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and flew the P-47 Thunderbolt over Germany while stationed in both France and Germany. After the war, he returned to college and graduated from the University of Florida in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science in business administration with High Honors. After graduation, Mr. Odom served as a professor of accounting at the University of Florida. In the early 1950s, he was appointed auditor of the Florida Milk Commission under the leadership of Gov. Charlie Johns and also served as auditor of the University of Florida for many years. He moved to Lake City in 1951 and became a founding partner in the firm of Darby, Darby and Odom, Certified Public Accountants. The successor firm is known today as Odom, Moses & Company, L.L.P. Mr. Odom was a member of the Board of Directors and president in 1970-1971 of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He was the Florida representative on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Council and later was named an honorary member of that council. In 1990, The Florida Bar recognized him for Meritorious Public Service to the public and the legal profession in the state of Florida. A civic and political leader in Lake City for more than 50 years, he was chairman of the 12-member City Charter Revision Committee in 1956. Mr. Odom's firm was the independent auditor for both Columbia County and the city of Lake City for many years and in addition were the auditors for a number of local financial institutions. He served as president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1965; served on the Board of Directors of the Lake City Community College; and was president of Lake City Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow, as well as being the auditor and a board member of the Lake Shore Hospital Authority. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Community State Bank in Starke for many years and was a member of the Board of Directors and president of the State Exchange Bank immediately prior to its acquisition by Barnett Banks. He also served as a board member of the First National Bank of Lake City. Mr. Odom served as a financial adviser for the First United Methodist Church in Lake City and had been an active member of the church since 1951. Mr. Odom is survived by his daughter, Martha Jane Odom Carter of Lake City; his granddaughter, Ginny Carter Mellow of Key West; one grandson, Ivey Carter of Lake City; his granddaughter, Carrie Frances Odom of Tallahassee; and one sister, Lula Mae Williamson of Blountstown. Mr. Odom was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Virginia Lee King Odom ,and two sons, Drakon Burke Odom Jr., and James Lee Odom. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 3/9/2007.
WAKULLA - James Lee Odom, 54, died Saturday evening Feb. 10, 2007, from injuries sustained in a vehicular accident. The services will be at 2 p.m. EST Wednesday at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jeffery Tate officiating. Interment will follow at Memorial Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 5 to 7 p.m. EST today at Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home (386-752-1954), 3596 South U.S. Highway 441 in Lake City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Florida United Methodist Children's Home, P.O. Box 6299, Deltona, FL 32728. A guestbook is available at www.gatewayforestlawn.com. He was born in Lake City, but spent most of his life in Wakulla. He was a graduate of Furman University, Greenville, S.C., with a Bachelor of Science in business. He earned a second Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Florida and became a certified public accountant. Mr. Odom loved fishing. He was a craftsman in woodworking and loved building furniture and remodeling old boats. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Mr. Odom is survived by his father, D.B. "Hayes" Odom of Lake City; one daughter, Carrie Frances Odom of Tallahassee; one sister, Martha Jane Odom Carter of Lake City; one niece, Ginny Carter Mello of Key West; and one nephew, Ivey Carter of Lake City. He was preceded in death by one brother, Drakon Burke Odom Jr., and his mother, Virginia Lee King Odom. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 2/13/2007.
CRAWFORDVILLE - George Olah, 65, a retired switchman for Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Co. in Tallahassee, died Saturday, May 24, 2003. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Olah. The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. EDT Friday at Cornerstone Ministries Church in Crawfordville. Memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308. Harvey-Young Funeral Home (926-3333) is handling arrangements. He was born in Sumatra and had been a resident of Crawfordville since 1970. He was a member of the Golden Railroads and Panacea VFW He was an Air Force veteran. Other survivors include four sons, Richard Dias of Tampa, Randy Dias of Orlando, Robin Dias of Crawfordville and Buddy Olah of Tallahassee; a brother, Joe Olah of Crawfordville; two sisters, Pam Revell of Sopchoppy and Mary Zorn of Crawfordville; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 5/28/2003.
Woodville - Graham Keith Oliff Sr., 78, who had retired as a lieutenant for the Navy, died Wednesday, July 30, 2003, in Tallahassee. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Joyce Anderson Oliff. The service will be at 3 p.m. EDT Saturday at Parkway Baptist Church in Tallahassee, with burial at Woodville Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. EDT today at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 5514 N. Davis Highway, No. C111, Pensacola, FL 32503. Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Riggins Road Chapel in Tallahassee (877-8191) is handling arrangements. He served during World War II and retired from the Florida State University psychology department. He was a member of Parkway Baptist Church and Masonic Lodge F&AM No. 102 in Sopchoppy. He loved his family dearly. Other survivors include two sons, Dave M. Oliff (and wife Harriet) of Tallahassee and G. Keith Oliff Jr. (and wife Carla); two daughters, Kelly Oliff Dorsey (and husband Joe) of Gainesville and Linda Joyce Small of Tallahassee; two brothers, Warren Oliff and Talmadge Oliff, both of Woodville; four sisters, Anna Lee Watkins, Lucille Olson, Mary Rossie Kovach and Linda Nell Lewis, all of Woodville; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 8/1/2003.
John Phillip Onkey, 82, a retired pharmaceutical sales manager, died Thursday, June 22, 2006. A memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. EDT Sunday at First Baptist Church of Tallahassee. Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Riggins Road Chapel (850-877-8191) is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Project of Tallahassee Inc., 301 E. Tharpe St., Tallahassee, FL 32303. Born April 13, 1924, in Bridgeport, Conn., he was the son of the late Rosalie and John Onkey. John's family moved to Miami when he was a teenager. He joined the U.S. Air Force at age 18. Reaching the rank of captain in the Air Force, John was a fighter pilot and was shot down over the Rhine River area in Germany in 1945. He spent several months in a POW camp. Following the war, John returned to Miami, where he began working for a pharmaceutical company, A.H. Robins. He worked for A.H. Robins as a south regional manager for 30 years and retired in December 1985. While living in Miami, John developed an interest in powerboats and became a successful hydroplane racer, winning numerous races. In addition to his interests in boat racing, John also was an avid tennis player and spent many weekends fishing in South Florida. John later moved to Tallahassee, where he and his late wife, Jennye, joined First Baptist Church. John fell in love with Tallahassee, FSU Football and FSU Circus so much that he persuaded his company to relocate his office to Tallahassee. John leaves behind his wife of 11 years, Marjorie Lowe Onkey; two stepchildren, Tracey Lowe of Tallahassee and Brian Lowe (and wife Francie) of Crawfordville; three brothers, Dr. Richard Onkey of Naples, Tom Onkey of Tallahassee and Philip Onkey of Melbourne; two granddaughters, Erin and Casey; and numerous nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his first wife, Jennye. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 6/24/2006.
Jamie Lynn Osteen, the infant daughter of James and Christy Osteen, died Sunday, Aug. 28, 2005. The memorial service will be at 2 p.m. EDT Friday at Beggs Funeral Home Apalachee Parkway Chapel (850-942-2929). Other survivors include a sister, Courtney Osteen; her paternal grandparents, John and Terry Osteen of Daytona; her paternal great-grandparents, Jim and Ellen Wolf of Daytona; her maternal grandparents, Paul and Cindy Sauls of Tallahassee and Vickie Kyle of Tallahassee; and her maternal great-grandmother, Helen Kyle of Sopchoppy. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 8/31/2005.
Patrick "Pappy" Osweiler, 56, formerly employed by Florida State University, died Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2006. The graveside service will be at 11 a.m. EDT today at Culley's MeadowWood Memorial Park, 700 Timberlane Road Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Riggins Rd. Chapel (850-877-8191) is handling arrangements. He was a veteran of the US Army and served in Germany. You will always forever touch our hearts. We love you Pat, you will be missed. He is survived by his loving mother, Margaret Hines Osweiler of Tallahassee; two brothers, Larry Armstrong of Alligator Point and Phillip Osweiler (and wife Adrianne) of Palm Beach Gardens; a sister, Susan Dana (husband Steve) of Tallahassee; two nieces, Laura Armstrong of Tallahassee and Kathryn Armstrong of Orlando; and two nephews, Mark Dana of Tampa and Matthew Dana of Tallahassee. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 9/22/2006.
Steven Lee Outlaw, 42, of the Mabson Community of Ozark, Ala., died Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005, at his home following an apparent heart attack. The service will be at 10:30 a.m. CDT Monday at Ozark Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Randall Yelverton officiating. Holman Funeral Home of Ozark (334-774-5348) is handling arrangements. Visitation will be at at 4 p.m. CDT today at the funeral home parlors, with the family receiving friends until 6 p.m. CDT today. Flowers will be accepted, or memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 1304 E. Sixth Ave., Tallahassee, FL 32303. For more information and an online guest register, visit www.holmanfuneralhome.com. Mr. Outlaw was a lifelong resident of Ozark, where he graduated from George W. Long High School, Wallace Community College and Cleveland Institute of Electronics. He was employed with Motorola Corp. as a cellular field engineer. He was a Presbyterian. He is survived by a daughter, Janel Elise Outlaw of Iva, S.C.; a son, Ryan Outlaw of Ozark; his mother and stepfather, Elizabeth and Jimmy Bruner of Ozark; his father and stepmother, Thomas and Barbara Outlaw of Shell Point; his maternal grandfather, Max Bruner of Ozark; two brothers, Scott Outlaw of Ariton, Ala., and Bert Bruner (and wife Sheanea) of Donalsonville, Ga.; two sisters, Kristina Petrandis (and husband Johnny) of Tallahassee and Taija Slaughter of Washington, D.C.; and his aunts and uncles, Wilton and Mavis Outlaw, Carlton Outlaw of Ariton, Sam and Jean Crumlish of Charleston, S.C., Joan Murdoch of Cumbria, England, Annabelle and Malcolm Wright of Basildon Essex, England, Douglas and Roseleen Crumlish of Largs, Scotland, and Carolyn Outlaw of Webb, Ala. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 8/21/2005.
SHELL POINT - Thomas L. Outlaw, 66, an electrical engineer formerly of Dale County, Ala., died Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2006, at the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Philadelphia after a brief battle with cancer. The service will be at 2 p.m. CDT Sunday at the chapel of Holman Funeral Home (334-774-5348) in Ozark, Ala., with the Rev. Ben Amlong officiating. Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. CDT today at the funeral home. For more information and to sign the guest register, visit www.holmanfuneralhome. com. Mr. Outlaw was born Sept. 10, 1939, in Ariton, Ala., in a one-room log cabin that still stands today. He was an electrical engineer, working with GTE, Motorola and Sprint. Among his many accomplishments, he served in the U.S. Navy and National Guard. He later received his maritime captain's license. Survivors include his wife, Barbara Slaughter Outlaw; a son, Scott Outlaw of Ariton, Ala.; two stepdaughters, Taija Slaughter of Washington, D.C., and Kristina Petrandis (and husband Johnny) of Tallahassee; a sister, Carolyn Outlaw of Webb, Ala.; two brothers, Curtis Wilton Outlaw (and wife Mavis) and Carlton Outlaw, both of Ariton; and three grandchildren, Ryan Outlaw, Janel Outlaw and Strauss Outlaw. Mr. Outlaw was preceded in death by his parents, Alice Mildred Tharp Outlaw and Roy Jacob Outlaw, and a son, Steven Outlaw. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 8/19/2006.
ST. MARKS - Andrew D. Ouzts, 93, a retired tug boat chief engineer who had worked for Tenneco Oil Co. from 1941 to 1956, died Friday, March 28, 2003, in Tallahassee. The graveside service will be at 2 p.m. EST Wednesday at St. Marks Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. EST Tuesday at Harvey-Young Funeral Home in Crawfordville (926-3333). Before working for Tenneco, he operated Ouzts Boat Livery during the 1930s and 1940s. After his retirement he was a snack-bar operator for the Division of Blind Services at the Capitol, the post office and Tallahassee City Hall. He was a member of Wakulla United Methodist Church and Masonic Lodge No. 294 F&AM of Crawfordville. Survivors include a son, Andrew Donald Ouzts (and wife Betty C.) of Gainesville; a daughter, Marie Louise Ouzts of Dowling Park; a granddaughter, Ginger Yvonne Miles of Newport News, Va.; a grandson, Warren Andrew Ouzts of Danville, Ala.; and two great-grandchildren, Ashley Marie Ouzts and Andrew Dalton Ouzts, both of Danville. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 3/30/2003.
CAIRO - Cecil Slaton Ouzts, 96, died Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006, at her residence. A private family service was Saturday at Midway Baptist Church Cemetery in Cairo. Heritage Funeral Home (229-377-2112) handled arrangements. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 8/23/2006.
CAIRO - Eddie Howell Ouzts Jr., 67, died Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006. A private family graveside service will be Saturday at Midway Baptist Church Cemetery. Heritage Funeral Home (229-377-2112) is handling arrangements. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 12/14/2006.
MIAMI - Eula Blank Ouzts, a retired schoolteacher, died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2005. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, J.C. Ouzts. The service will be at 3 p.m. EST Tuesday at Oakland Cemetery. Beggs Funeral Home Apalachee Parkway Chapel (850-942-2929) is handling arrangements. She was born in Tallahassee and was the daughter of the late Charles and Mary Bowen Blank. She was a graduate of Leon High School and Florida State College for Women. She began a career in elementary education at Fort Braden School that continued until her retirement from the Dade County school system. She was a member of the Eastern Star and was an Episcopalian. Other survivors include a sister, Mrs. Eva Roberts of Wakulla County; two nieces, Mary M. Thomas of Miami and Teresa Porter of Crawfordville; three nephews, Charles and Melvin Blank, both of Tallahassee, and John Roberts of Atlanta; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. She is also survived by the many students whose lives she touched over the years. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat from 11/20/2005 - 11/21/2005.
Jewell Lambert Ouzts, died Monday, July 9, 2007. The service will be at 11 a.m. EDT Saturday at Morningside Baptist Church, with burial at Oak City Cemetery. Vistation is from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home (229-377-2112). Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 7/13/2007.
CAIRO - Walter C. Ouzts, 69, a retired parts manager of agriculture equipment, died Monday, Aug. 11, 2003, in Thomasville, Ga. The service will be at 2 p.m. today at Long Branch Baptist Church in Cairo, with burial at Greenwood Cemetery. Clark Funeral Home (229-377-1414) is handling arrangements. He is survived by two sons, Jeffrey Ouzts and Patrick Ouzts, both of Cairo; two brothers, Herschel Ouzts and Herman Ouzts; and a sister, Joyce Rodgers. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 8/13/2003.
BRISTOL Annie Gertrude Owens, 81, died Saturday, Sept. 21, 2002. The service will be at 11 a.m. EDT Tuesday at the Bristol Assembly of God Church, with burial at Lake Mystic Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. EDT today at Adams Funeral Home in Bristol (643-5410). Mrs. Owens was a native and lifelong resident of Liberty County and was a member of the Bristol Assembly of God Church. She had worked for many years as a cook in the Liberty ICF and at the lunchroom cafeterias in Liberty County Schools. She was the wife of the late James "Red" Owens. Survivors include two sisters, Vinnie McMillan of Blountstown and Hazel Tanton of Bristol; two grandchildren, Carrie Riley of Crawfordville and Phillip Owens of Panama City Beach; and four great-grandchildren. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 9/23/2002.
Janice L. Owens, 71, a day-care worker, died Monday, May 10, 2004. She is survived by her husband, Mardie. The service will be at 10 a.m. EDT Wednesday at Abbey-Riposta Funeral Home (562-1518), with burial at Tallahassee Memory Gardens. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. EDT today at the funeral home. She was a Baptist and former president of the Police and Sheriff's Wives Auxiliary. Other survivors include two daughters, Deborah Bullock (and husband Bill) of Monticello and Robyn Owens Simpson of Tallahassee; a son, Gene Owens of Atlanta; two brothers, Buster Lee of Quincy and Robert Lee of Sopchoppy; three sisters, Emma Jean Buchanan of Hendersonville, Tenn., Mary Barkley of Greenville and Edith Lee of Tallahassee; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by two brothers, James T. and Jimmie W. Lee, and a sister, Jackie Goldburg. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 5/11/2004.
Charles Oxendine Jr., 76, a retired building contractor and locksmith, died Monday, April 30, 2007, at home. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Sandy Oxendine. The memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Abundant Life Church, 3881 N. Monroe St. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308. Harvey-Young Funeral Home (850-926-3333) in Crawfordville is handling arrangements. Charles was born in Marianna and moved to Tallahassee in the late '30s. Other survivors include son Shawn Oxendine and wife Christina and their two children, Chad and Hannah Oxendine, all of Carrabelle; son Rusty Oxendine and wife Michelle and their three children, Courtney, Cassandra and Heather Oxendine, all of Tallahassee; and two brothers, Leslie and Don of Tallahassee. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie Mae and Charles Oxendine Sr., and a sister, Shirley Newman. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat from 5/2/2007 - 5/3/2007.
Sharon Messer Oxendine, 55, a retired executive secretary for the Leon County Board of Commissioners, died Friday, April 18, 2003. The graveside service will be at 11 a.m. EDT Monday at Roselawn Cemetery. Family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m. EDT today at Beggs Funeral Home Apalachee Parkway Chapel (942-2929). Memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308. A lifelong resident of Tallahassee, she retired from the Leon County Board of Commissioners in November. She was a member of Northwoods Baptist Church. Survivors include two sons, Courtland Duane Oxendine Jr. and Christopher Russell Oxendine, both of Tallahassee; a daughter, Donna Marie Oxendine of Tallahassee; two sisters, Frances Messer Chaires (and husband Franklin) of Chaires and Kathy Messer Arnold of Tallahassee; and two devoted friends, Michael Frazier of Havana and Parwez Alam of Tallahassee. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 4/19/2003.