Clora Ruth Deese

Clora Ruth Deese, longtime resident of Jacksonville passed away on April 20, 2011.Mrs. Deese was born in Moultrie, GA to Thomas and Winne Ruth Chapel Musselwhite. She grew up in Thomasville, GA and attended Thomasville High School. In the early 1940’s, she moved to Jacksonville, FL. Her first job was as an assistant at the local A&P Bakery. While on the elevator at work one day, Clora met her future husband, Raymond Deese. During their fifty plus year marriage, Clora raised four children while establishing herself as a well known gospel music accompanist. Throughout the area, “if you could find singing, you could find Mama.” Clora was a charter member of the early Southern Baptist Singing Conventions. For over 60 years, she was involved in music with numerous churches and organizations including local nursing homes, the Rescue Mission and the Blind Fellowship . She assisted many local churches as an accompanist for their music. She was a member of Edgewood Heights Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Clora was predeceased by her parents Thomas and Winnie Musselwhite; her husband Raymond Sidney; brothers, Bill “Billy Boy” Musselwhite, Luther Ryles Musselwhite and John “PeeWee” Musselwhite. She leaves to cherish her memory daughters Judith Boone (Marvin) of Interlachen, FL, Wanda Deese Wilson, of Dallas, TX, Brenda Volker (Bob), of Jacksonville and Nancy Deese Fuller of Interlachen,FL ; stepson, Raymond Deese of Dallas, TX; brothers Jerry Musselwhite (Cherry), of Brooksville, GA, Tim Musselwhite (Ramona), of Decatur, GA, Bobby Musselwhite of Thomasville, GA and sister Wynell Musselwhite Mitchell (William), of Thomasville, GA. In addition, Clora left “a passel of kids” including 16 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.Visitation will be held from 12:00PM until 1:30PM on Monday, April 25, 2011 at Hardage-Giddens Town & Country Funeral Home. The graveside funeral service will follow at 2:00PM at Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery. Reverend H. Watson Moody of the Edgewood Heights Baptist Church will officiate. Hardage-Giddens Town & Country Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32205 904/781-9262. To leave a message for the family go to www.townandcountryfuneralhome.com and sign the guestbook.