Jill B. Findley

September 19, 1939 - April 18, 2025

Jill Bolt Findley, was born on September 19, 1939, to Cecil and Montez Bolt, in Anderson,

SC. She met Chig Findley on the tennis courts in high school, and they fell deeply in love. They married January 31, 1959, and were devoted to one another for the next 66 years. Their love created, and extended to, three children, six grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren.

Chig and Jill moved their family many times because of Chig’s work. They always had a great attitude about each new city, and each move was presented to the family as an adventure. But in 1978, when Chig was transferred to Pensacola, they had found “paradise,” and that’s where they stayed for the rest of their marriage. Jill immediately got involved in the community, the life of the church - particularly choir, and in making a warm and inviting home. They loved their life together in Pensacola.

Jill worked at First Baptist Church and served as assistant to Minister of Music Mike Simoneaux, and as pastor’s assistant to Brian Harbour, Cecil Seagle, Randel Everett, and Robert Mills, for a total of 23 years. She loved First Baptist Church and served in many other areas of the church throughout the 47 years that she was a member.

Jill loved tennis, golf, walking, and working out. After retirement, she taught exercise classes for the next 17 years at FBC, first in Body Recall, then in Fitness & Fun, getting up at 5am three mornings a week to get things ready. She loved teaching people exercises that would not only help them get strong and keep their bodies moving, but she also taught them how to get up from the floor if they fell. Over the years, many people told her that they'd fallen in their homes and were able to get themselves up off the floor because she had taught them how. That made her so happy! Her lifetime of discipline and an active lifestyle served her well until the very end. She could still do leg lifts in her recliner in the last months of her life.

Jill’s life was defined by service, borne out of love, for her family, her community, and her Lord Jesus. She loved reading the Bible daily, and she reminded us often that she also prayed for her family every day. Jill believed in Jesus as her Savior and Lord on Easter Sunday when she was 8 years old, and she went home to be with Him on Good Friday at the age of 85.

Jill is survived by her loving husband, Claude R. “Chig” Findley; brother Rick (Patty) Bolt, MD; children Robin (John) Kilchrist, Susan Findley, and Steve (Susan) Findley; grandchildren Myla Kilchrist, Meagan (Jon) Kilchrist Mayfield, Shannon (Caleb) Ludrick, Sydney (Joel) McGowan, Seth (Abby) Findley, and Silas (Arden) Findley; eight great grandchildren; nephew Matthew Bolt, and niece Julie Bolt (David) Schendel.

Jill’s family would like to extend their deepest thanks to Vitas Healthcare for their care and compassion for Jill since December 2024, and to the staff at The Veranda of Pensacola who, for the past 5 years, with compassion, love, patience, and respect, have diligently cared for our mother, and will continue to care for our father. To our sister/daughter, Susan Findley, we thank you from the bottoms of our hearts for your loving presence and care for our mom these past 5 years.

A Celebration of Life will be held at First Baptist Church, Pleitz Chapel, 500 N. Palafox St., Pensacola, FL 32501, Monday, April 28, 2025 with Visitation at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 11:00 a.m.

Interment will be at Barrancas National Cemetery, for immediate family only.

In lieu of flowers, Jill’s wishes were that donations be made to local and/or international missions, through First Baptist Church, Pensacola, FL. https://www.shelbygiving.com/app/giving/fbcpensacola