Lilla Hendrix Curtis

Lilla was born on February 26, 1929, in Lakeland, Florida, to Wiley C. and Gertrude (Fink) Hendrix. She later moved to Ft. Myers, Florida, at the age of 5. She was proud to be a native Floridian.

She attended Edison Park Elementary school and graduated from Fort Myers High School in 1947. She was a member of Central Methodist Church, Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority, American Businesswomen’s Association, Ladies of the Elks, and Royal Palm Bowling League.

Her first job after high school was with the Florida Pharmaceutical Association Board of Pharmacy. Later she worked for the Florida Gladiolus Company where she met Charles M. Curtis. They later married and started the Carolina Café in downtown Fort Myers which they operated for 15 years. After her divorce, she worked in the office at Orangewood Elementary School before her job at the Lee County Health Department Environmental Health Services as secretary and then office manager. She retired in 1994 after 27 years of service. After retirement she moved into Presbyterian Apartments in downtown Ft. Myers where she enjoyed her riverside view on the 12th floor until August of 2022 when she moved to a beautiful apartment at Brookdale of Cape Coral.

She was preceded in death by her brothers Benny E. Hendrix and Tommy J. Hendrix and her son, Alan D. Curtis. Lilla is survived by her daughters, Donna (Mike) Szarowicz of Tarpon Springs and Karen (Gary) Loderhose of Cape Coral. She has seven grandchildren: Shannon, Alan, Mike, Emily, Mindy, Ben, and Will and nine great-grandchildren: Evan, Liam, Mikey, Zoe, Ephraim, Hallie, Andrew, Ruthie, and Connor.

She will be remembered for her love for her family, her kind and generous nature, her hard work and independent spirit and her joy for thrift shopping, gift giving, card playing, and fast food.

A funeral service for Lilla will be held Friday, November 18, 2022 at 11:00 am at Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park, 12777 State Road 82, Fort Myers, FL 33913. Interment will follow in Lee Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Lilla's memory may be made to Hope Hospice at Lee Health, 9470 Healthpark Circle, FL 33908 US.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leememorialparkfuneralhome.com for the Curtis family.