Marlene J. Groves

Marlene Jones Groves, 93, passed away in her Jacksonville home at 11:11am on July 24, 2025. She was born near Lansing, NC to the late Thomas Lester and Alice Blevins Jones. She graduated from Lansing School in 1950 and from Flora McDonald Collage in 1954 with a Bachelor Degree in Music Education. After graduation she moved to Wilmington, NC and taught in the New Hanover County School System. In 1956 she began work for the Social Security Administration. Marlene moved to Jacksonville with her husband in 1960 when the Atlantic Coastline Railroad relocated its home office from Wilmington.

In 1968 Marlene joined the Duval County School System as a substitute teacher. By 1978 she became Merrill Road Elementary’s full-time music teacher. In 1984 she moved to Ft. Caroline Elementary and remained as their full-time music teacher until her retirement in 1995. Marlene was known for her lavish musical stage productions presented by each grade level. The fifth-grade musical production of the “Nutcracker” became a school tradition during her tenure. And, her fifth-grade chorus performed at many venues around Jacksonville.

Marlene was active in the community, serving as choir director for the Arlington Christian Church from 1971 to 1995. She also performed in the annual production of the Morrocco Temple’s Cartoon Capers Showboat Follies and sang at many churches around Jacksonville.

Marlene was predeceased by her first husband, Edward Marion Westbrook, Jr. and her second husband George Edward Groves. She is survived by her sons Edward (Ned) M. Westbrook, III of Atlanta, GA and John Thomas Westbrook of Jacksonville along his wife Michelle and her grandchildren Jackson and Charlotte.

Visitation will be held from 2:00pm to 4:00pm on Sunday, August 3, 2025 at the Corey-Kerlin Funeral Home, 940 Cesery Blvd, Jacksonville, FL. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Community Hospice or to the charity of one’s choice.