Florence Ethel Spikes Wimberly Jones

November 25, 1927 to May 26, 2022.

The following was drafted by Florence prior to her passing with edits and comments in [brackets] by her grand-daughter, Lydia Wimberly Messina.

Preceded in death by her parents Beatrice Harbaugh and Paul E. Spikes; husbands Arma G. Jones (Grady) and John J. Wimberly Sr. (Bruzz); son John J. Wimberly (Bubba); brothers Aaron, Paul (Mary Catherine “Toodie”), and Jimmy (Shirley) Spikes; and sister Shirley (Bill Hopkins). She is survived by her son, Russell Joseph Wimberly (Carlita); 7 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren; and many devoted friends [as well as an extensive dog figurine collection].

Flo was a long-time member of the American Humane Society and provided a home to several canines when needed [and they would frequently share a Burger King Whopper with her]. Flo retired from the Federal Government after over 30 years of civilian service with agencies such as the USAF, GSA, U.S. Navy, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. She was a member of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) prior to her retirement. [Flo was a practicing Catholic and attended Mass at St. Matthews and Our Savior, where she would praise God’s glory and, in the same breath, note the behinds of her fellow-congregants. Always in hushed, reverent tones, which were also usually loud enough to make God laugh along with her].

Being a baseball player in her youth, she loved any baseball game and was an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves, Bobby Cox, and Chipper Jones. Although she could play in-field and right-field positions, she was chosen and voted all-star catcher in several leagues and played until she was 60-years-old.

She also enjoyed her Saturday night poker players and Sunday night bingo friends. She loved cooking and making preserves, jams, and her famous Jack Daniels fruit cake for her grandchildren and friends. [Flo also loved to celebrate Mardi Gras with her children and grandchildren, where she would frequently chastise them for not picking up the beads fast enough from the street - regardless if they were whole, broken, or in other various states of filfth. Mardi Gras will not be the same without her].

The family will receive friends from 6:00pm-8:00pm on Thursday, June 2nd at Pine Crest Funeral Home on Dauphin Island Parkway. The funeral Mass will be held at St. Matthews Catholic Church at 10am with a gravesite visitation to follow at Pine Crest. [And if Flo read what I added to her obituary, she would hopefully laugh, cut her eyes, and say “Mercy!”]

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (cardiac services) or St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church Legacy Fund.