Nita C Lacy

Nita Christine Lacy, 86, went home to be with our Lord on Friday, January 24, 2014. She passed away peacefully with her husband by her side at the Community Hospice McGraw Center for Caring in Jacksonville.

Christine was born in Hendersonville, N.C., July 21, 1927 to the late Samuel and Addie Justus. In 1948 she married John William Lacy and moved to Jacksonville, Fla. She is survived by husband John, daughter Sandra Lacy, nephew Fred Ahern, Jr. of St. Augustine, nephew Mike Walker of Keystone Heights, and longtime close family friend Bobby McDowell.

She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Temple North Chapter No. 304 and served as Worthy Matron there in 1974. She was also a member of the Daughters of the Nile and served as the Queen of Khem Temple No. 85 in 1985-86. She was appointed as Supreme Deputy Organizer, Southeast U.S. in 1997 and as such was the driving force behind organizing and instituting Tarsus Temple No. 161, in Tallahassee, in 1999. She remained devoted to any and all efforts to support the Shriners Children’s Hospitals until Alzheimer’s limited and ultimately prevented her from continuing her beloved “Nile work”.

Besides being a devoted wife and mother, Christine’s life was filled with a wide variety of interests and activities. She grew up in the membership of the Advent Christian Church where her uncle was pastor; at 17 years old and standing 5’1” she was a guard with the North Carolina State Champion Women’s Basketball team; from 1952 to 1962 she managed two rooming houses for the Florida Publishing Company in the Springfield area of Jacksonville; many people will remember her as “the Godiva chocolate lady” at Furchgott’s downtown department store; she was a member of numerous social organizations such as The Southside Women’s Club, The Red Hat Club and, with her husband, was an active member of the Jacksonville Motorcycle Riding Club; she also enjoyed boating and water skiing with family and friends. She and John were members of The German-American Club and rarely missed a dance or social function there. In later years they traveled extensively visiting the continental U. S., Alaska & Hawaii, Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Israel, England, France & Hong Kong. They especially enjoyed their Caribbean cruises. Even with advanced AD she still loved gardening at home and caring for her 5 rescue cats.

Visitation will be from 6-8 Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 1701 Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville Beach. Burial will be at the Lacy family plot of Ebenezer Baptist Church, 446 Hatcher Rd., Lamont, FL 32336. Pastor Andy Creel and members of the Khem and Tarsus Daughters of the Nile Temples will conduct graveside services.

In lieu of flowers contributions in her memory may be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospitals and/or the Community Hospice McGraw Center for Caring.