Joline Belcher Groot

Born in Orlando, Florida, the only child of Johnnie Lester Belcher and Mamie Posey Belcher, Joline grew up in Jacksonville and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School.

She attended Florida State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and met her future husband, Louis Ellis (Bud) Groot, Jr., where both were active in the Flying High Circus. Joline was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, PEO Sisterhood and the Alpha Delta Kappa Education Sorority.

Bud and Joline were married on 9/6/1952 at Riverside Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida. After living briefly in Crestview, FL and Chevy Chase, MD the couple made their home in Tallahassee and had three children.

Joline served as an English teacher and made a lasting impact on many of Tallahassee’s school children over the years. She taught at Leon High School (1953-1954), Crestview High School, (1956-1957), and Augusta Raa Middle School from 1965 until her retirement in 1993. She was awarded the Augusta Raa Middle School Teacher of the Year award 1989-1990.

Joline was an active and involved pillar of the Tallahassee community where she was a member of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church and served as the Sunday school superintendent and chair of the Alter Guild. In later years, she was an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church where she was a member of Daughters of the King, served on the Flower Ministry and worked in the St. Johns Book Store. She served in the Secretary of the Florida Senate’s office during the legislative sessions from 1994 until the mid 2000s. She also served as an Elder Care driver with Elder Care Services.

Joline enjoyed bicycling, swimming, gardening and travel. Her greatest joy was her three children and six grandchildren.

Joline was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her children Louis Ellis Groot, III of Tallahassee, Johnnie Belcher Groot of Longmont, CO, Gaye Ann Groot (Jeff) Johnson of Tallahassee, and grandchildren Clayton Burr Ragsdale of Tallahassee, Julie Anna Ragsdale of Durham, NC, Christopher Thomas Groot of Charleston, SC, Nicholas Ryan Groot of Longmont, CO, Wesley Alexander Groot of Longmont, CO and Benjamin Daniel Groot of St. Petersburg, FL.

The family would like to thank the caregivers at Harbor Chase for their attentiveness and care and also Angela Johnson and Felicia Johnson for their extra support and love in the final weeks.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Big Bend Hospice, to which the family will be forever grateful for their love and care during Joline’s final hours.