Merle Grant English

Merle Grant English, 97, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, December 18, 2017. Merle was born December 6, 1920 in Ocala, Florida and graduated in the Ocala High School Class of 1938. She worked for the Marion County School Superintendent from 1938 until 1941. She married Early Vern English of Byron, Georgia in Live Oak, Florida on March 9, 1941, and they moved to Jacksonville in September 1942. Mrs. English worked for the Baptist Book Store in Jacksonville for several years and then was employed for 28 years with the Florida Baptist Convention from 1954 to 1982. She was Secretary to the Music Director and traveled all over Florida to different churches to work with choirs to improve their performances. She transferred from the Music Department to the Assistant Executive Secretary’s office until she retired in 1982. She loved church music, she sang in her church choirs for many years and she played piano.

She lived with her daughter, Loyce, on Long Lake in Melrose, Florida, and was a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Keystone Heights, Florida until she moved to Riverwood Health & Rehab in Starke, Florida in October 2013. She was a devoted wife and a wonderful mother and grandmother. She was preceded in death by her husband on December 27, 1991.

She is survived by her son, Walter English (Barbara); her daughters Sara Nell Cleaveland (Gary) and Loyce Robidoux (Larry); grandchildren Eugene Cleaveland (Kim), Spencer Cleaveland (Lisa), Kayren Sebree (Roger), and Robert English (Heather); 9 great-grandchildren; and 19 great-great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Friday, December 22, 2017 from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM in the Chapel at Hardage-Giddens Riverside Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 7242 Normandy Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32205, (904) 781-9262. A Going Home Celebration of Life service for Mrs. English will follow at 3:00 PM in the Funeral Home Chapel.