Dora Toby

Dora attended St. Elizabeth Grammar School, and graduated from St. Elizabeth High School in Chicago. Years later she returned to school to pursue her interest in African-American History, Art, and Literature at Chicago’s Malcolm X College. She was the Insurance Specialist in the Human Resource department and held various other positions at the Chicago headquarters of Playboy Enterprise, Inc. for over 20 years before retiring. After many years she returned to the work force in Jacksonville, Florida as a Group Leader in the Micrographics Retrieval department and held Corporate Title with the rank of Officer at Barnett Bank/Bank of America for 9 years before finally retiring. She loved crocheting, gardening, rubber stamping/card-making, collecting African-American Santa ornaments and angels, reading, listening to music and books on CD, and enjoying her favorite television shows and movies.

A devoted family person and beloved friend, she is survived by her husband of 36 years, Oscar W. Toby, daughter, Regina Marie (Davis) Trotter and her husband, Byron Shaun Trotter of Pasadena, California; Chicago childhood friend Lorraine “Sis” Bertrand, and her best Jacksonville friends Barbara Mahar, Connie Sifford, Joyce Utley, Sharon Sahr and Charlene Dangerfield, as well as a host of other friends.

Dora was always cheerful regardless of the circumstances and always wore a beautiful, warm welcoming smile. She was a kind, gentle and understanding soul, always ready to do a kind deed for everyone. She will be missed by all that had the pleasure of knowing her – to know her was to love her!

The Funeral Service will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 13, 2014 with visitation from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. prior to the service in Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin.

The Committal Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at Jacksonville National Cemetery (Lane 2), 4083 Lannie Road, Jacksonville, FL 32218.

Memorial contributions in Dora’s name may be made to the American Heart Association , https://donate.heart.org.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32223. www.hgmandarin.com (904) 288-0025.