Verna Eloise Young

With her family by her side, Verna Philmon Young passed peacefully into her next life at 8:30pm on Wednesday September 3, 2014. Born to the late John Philmon and Grace Philmon-Bell on June 15, 1938, she was a force to be reckoned with but had a heart of gold.

Verna’s life did not follow a traditional path that is easily recounted. She was a jack-of-all-trades, and master of many. During her life she held various accounting positions, was a Licensed Practical Nurse and served as a private school administrator at Mandarin Children’s Academy for more than 20 years. She was passionate about animals and, with her Husband, nursed countless of the abandoned and abused back to health. She then promptly adopted them as family members or gifted them to her grandchildren. She was outspoken and boldly “told it like it is.” Her dry sense of humor was rivaled only by her generosity and her love for her family and friends. She will be missed beyond measure.

Verna is survived by her devoted husband of 33 years, Kenneth Young; two children Brenda Short, Jacksonville, and Michael Franklin, Green Cove Springs; as well as five beloved grandchildren; Rachel Franklin, Andrew Franklin, Meaghan Short, Brandy Franklin, Austin Franklin, nine great-grandchildren and her loving sister Mary Louise Tedder, Perry.

She is predeceased by her sons Donald K. Franklin (1976) and James Lamar Franklin (2012), her granddaughter Melanie J. Wigner (2006) and her favorite son-in-law Dr. William G. Short (2010).

Family and friends will be recieved on Friday September 12, 2014 from 6-8pm at Hardage Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin. The funeral service will be held Saturday September 13, 2014 at 3pm in the same location.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Saint Francis Animal Hopsital www.SaintFrancisAnimalHospital.org (904) 674-7223.