Michelle Grace Southard

Michelle Grace (Mimi/Mimaw) Southard (nee Packer), 57 of Plant City, Florida. Passed away on December 29, 2023, in Brandon, Florida.

Michelle Southard was born in Cincinnati and lived in Fairfax, Ohio to Thomas Ryan Packer and Grace Charlene Packer on March 11,1966. She went to school at Mariemont HS in Mariemont Ohio and was an honor student. Received her AA degree at City-wide Colleges of Chicago (now Harold Washington College), BS degree at University of Florida (UofF) and MBA degree at Liberty University. She married Robert S. Southard on March 22nd, 1986, in Mariemont, Ohio. She enlisted in the U.S Navy in 1984 where she served for 28 years and retired as a Lieutenant Commander having received a commission through the Enlisted Commissioning Program (ECP) while at UofF. She was a veteran of the Gulf War and Desert Storm. She was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Nav&Mar Corps Commendation Medal, Nav&Mar Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendations, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy “E” Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. She was one of the very first women in the US to be assigned to a combatant ship and was recognized as one of the top 500 woman to know in the US in 1996.

Michelle Southard is preceded in death by her mother, Grace Packer; her father, Thomas Packer; father-in-law, Albert Southard; brother-in-law, Gregg Toles, and grandchildren; Cooper and Mathew Southard.

Michelle Southard is survived by her loving husband, Robert S. Southard; mother-in-law Rosalie Southard, Children; Correy (Cathryn) Southard, Carra Southard (Jordan Gifford); Grandchildren, Tye Loraamm, Izzy Orr, Gabrielle Orr, Connor Orr, Isaac Orr, Abigail Southard, Lillian Southard, Kilah Gifford, Kinlie Gifford, Raelyn Gifford, and Payton Gifford; Siblings, Shawn Packer, Jhyll (Rich) Guzman, Jaesen (Marco) Petretta, Evie Toles, Tammy (Jim) Lake, and Lynn (Brian) Furtah. Nieces and Nephews; Savanah Packer, Sebastian Guzman, Olivia Guzman, Vivienne Petretta, Cait Petretta, Luciana Petretta, Tara (Adam) Wallace, Dana (Matt) Bonger, Michael Lake, Christy (Tony) Markel, Cameron Furtah, Trenton Furtah; Great nieces and nephews; Sophia Wallace Gemma Wallace, Maggie Wallace, Gretchen Wallace, Eden Bonger, Eve Bonger, Isaac Bonger, Abraham Bonger, Adam Bonger, Layla Foster.

Visitation will be 12pm-1pm on Saturday, February 3rd 2024 at Stowers Funeral Home, in Brandon, Florida. Funeral services will be held from 1pm-2pm on Saturday, February 3rd, 2024 at Stowers Funeral Home, in Brandon Florida with the Pastor Stephen Hartsfield of First United Methodist Church of Plant City officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to endalz.org or action.lung.org on behalf of Michelle Southard.

Michelle (Mimi) was a beautiful person – both inside and out, an unselfish loving Wife, a caring and adored Mother, dedicated, playful, educational, yet stern Mimaw, admired and loved Daughter, caring Sister, adored Aunt, proud Cousin, respected Sister-in Arms, and best Friend to whom she had many. Michelle was an awesome athlete (a natural softball slugger), an outdoorsman (kayaking, rafting, sailing, biking, camping, dirt biking, shooting), sports fanatic (NFL & college football, hockey, Indy car, NBA, and MMA). She was brave, strong, kind, caring, and a true badass woman in every sense of the meaning. Michelle spent her life protecting her beloved country and family. She was an extremely dedicated and highly successful woman whether it be to her career, business, or with loved ones. Michelle honestly and genuinely loved every person and pretty much all animals (having been known to cry when one of her pet fish died) - she loved all from the heart. Michelle was an ambassador/donor for Alzheimer’s research (which her mother died from) and would proudly march on her mother’s behalf. She was also an organ donor, and her corneas will benefit two other people to help them live a better life. Michelle will be truly and wholeheartedly missed and forever revered and deeply loved – she was one of a kind – our Michelle (amazing) Grace (Packer) Southard