Obituaries
Glenda Rae Phelps and Alice M. Swanson
Glenda Rae Phelps
Glenda Rae Phelps, 85, died Friday Dec. 16, 2022, at Eden Springs Nursing Home. Glenda Rae was born in Panama City and grew up in Sopchoppy where she loved living an easy paced life.
Glenda is preceded in death by her parents Florence & Gwynn McAllister, her beloved grandparents Joe and Callie Langston, her first husband Herman Eudell Blackman Jr. (“Buddy”) who passed away in 1967 and her husband of nearly 40 years, Jack Carmel Phelps Sr. who died in September 2012. She was also preceded in death by her eldest son, Douglas Mize Blackman who died in October 2021.
Glenda Rae is survived by her son, David Neil Blackman (Melissa); her brother, Shelton McAllister “Sonny” (Shellee McAllister); her daughter-in-law Teri Blackman (late Douglas Blackman); son, Jack C. Phelps Jr. (Eva); her grandchildren Josh Phelps, Shawn Phelps, Krista Blackman, and Evan Blackman. She also leaves two great-grandchildren, Isabella and Madison. She will be missed by many cousins, family members and friends.
Glenda went to Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville. She enjoyed working at the Florida Highway Patrol on the Homicide Investigation team in Tallahassee; she also enjoyed her tenure with Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Va. Her favorite occupation was that of wife, mother, grandmother, and “Honeymine.”
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022, at Sopchoppy Southern Baptist Church, 117 Curtis Mill Road, Sopchoppy FL 32358. Visitation will be held just prior to the service at 10:30 a.m. Pastor David Allen will officiate.
Skip and Trey Young along with Paula and Kimberly are assisting the family. Family Funeral Home at Harvey Young Chapel, 850-926-5919 www.familyfhc.com
Alice M. Swanson
Alice M. Swanson died at age 88, on Dec. 17, 2022, after a valiant fight with Parkinson’s Disease. Alice was the first baby born on January 1st in Waycross Ga. in 1934. Her family eventually settled in Baldwin, Fla. when she was 7 years old.
After graduating high School she married the love of her life, Willard Jerome Swanson, joining him in San Diego, Calif., where he was serving in the U.S. Navy. They became the parents of two children, Verna Lynne and Richard Alan. Due to the peripatetic nature of military life, Alice contented herself with homemaking and service to her church and community. She was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, devout Christian, and especially loved teaching 2nd grade Sunday School and vacation Bible School.
After Will retired from the Coast Guard, the family moved to Melbourne Fla. where he and Alice resided for 50 years. While there, Alice fulfilled a lifelong dream of attending college, earning her associate’s degree from Brevard Community. Due to health concerns, Will and Alice relocated to Tallahassee in 2020, to be near family.
She and Will had a daily routine for years, while in Melbourne, of meeting with a large group of friends and family for breakfast at McDonalds. The group was ever expanding, due to the welcoming and fun nature of this long standing social enterprise.
Alice was predeceased by her parents, Ira R. and Verda Mae Mangum Harrison; her brothers, Theodore, Ray, and Richard Harrison and sister Ruth Harrison Ingram.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 71 years, Will Swanson; children Verna Lynne S. Brock (Ed) of Wakulla Station and Richard Alan (Kent) of Chicago; her brother Jack E. (Sally) of Fernandina Beach; grandchildren E. Alan Brock of St.Petersburg; Anna Brock Simmons (Josh); Eden Marie Rodgers (Brian), both of Crawfordville; and Mary Emma Smith (Matt) of Grand Ridge; grandchildren Brennan and Avery Simmons; Harrison and Harper Rodgers; and Brooke, Lana and Kara Smith; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date, after the holidays. The family requests donations be made to Big Bend Hospice in lieu of flowers.
Skip and Trey Young along with Paula and Kimberly are assisting the family. Family Funeral Home at Harvey Young Chapel, 850-926-5919 www.familyfhc.com