Catherine Kitty Brittain Townsend

Catherine “Kitty” Brittain Townsend passed away peacefully on March 22, 2016. A native of Jacksonville, she was the daughter of Kingman Brittain and Laura Hawkins Brittain, originally of Jacksonville, and sister of Barbara Brittain Hodges and Kingman Brittain, Jr., both deceased. Kitty was born on May 24th, 1930 in Jacksonville. While she lived the majority of her life there, she spent her high school years in Tallahassee, Florida, and the early years of her marriage to Dr. James “Jim” Townsend in Winston Salem, North Carolina; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Charleston, South Carolina.

While in Tallahassee, Kitty was a leader at Leon High School, where she was elected “Queen of the May.” She remained in Tallahassee to attend Florida State University before transferring shortly thereafter to Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Kitty flourished at Duke, where she was voted President of the Tri-Delta Sorority, and majored in Childhood Education. It was at Duke where she met the love of her life, Dr. James “Jim” Townsend. Fate had them seated together on the Silver Meteor on the long trip from Jacksonville to Durham.

Shortly after graduating from Duke, Kitty and Jim moved wherever Jim’s medical career called him. In New Orleans, she gave birth to her first son, James Joye Townsend, Jr., and in Charleston, she had her second child, Thomas Kingman Townsend. Soon after returning to Jacksonville, she had two daughters, Catherine London Townsend, and Amanda McConnell Townsend. Over the next 55 years she raised her family and proudly saw them grow up to have children of their own, blessing her with 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, to date.

Kitty was a remarkable woman who expertly balanced the roles of wife, mother, teacher, volunteer, friend and servant to others, while continuing to broaden herself personally all along. She was a teacher at West Riverside Elementary, where she introduced many young students to Creative Writing. She was an active member of Colonial Dames of America, Junior League of Jacksonville, Women’s Medical Auxiliary, Jacksonville Garden Club, and organizations to protect Tree Hill in Jacksonville, and the Fatio House in St. Augustine. At Riverside Park United Methodist Church, she served as President of United Methodist Women and taught Bible Study. Throughout her years, she freely satisfied a strong intellectual curiosity, pursing such activities as sewing, writing, taking French lessons, studying real estate, and investing in the stock market. She had a keen mind, and traded stocks online into her 80’s. Kitty enjoyed poetry her entire life, leaving behind work of her own for her children to discover only later in her life.

For all of her intellect, talent, and personal accomplishments, to many she is most known for her humble way of putting herself second to others.

Kitty is survived by her four children: James Joye Townsend, Jr. (Joan), Thomas Kingman Townsend (Jeanne), Catherine Townsend McRae (David) and Amanda Townsend Bristol (Mike). She is also survived by 12 much adored grandchildren: Carolyn Diggs Townsend, James Joye Townsend III, Elizabeth Hawkins Townsend, Alexander Boone Townsend (deceased), Laura Brittain Townsend, Nathaniel Light Townsend, David Thomas McRae (Carol), Benjamin Townsend McRae and Andrew Pierson McRae, Mercer Kingman Bristol, Carson Michael Bristol, McConnell Townsend Bristol and a blessed great grandchild Kendrick Wylie McRae. She was also graced with many beloved nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at Riverside Park United Methodist Church, 819 Park Street, Jacksonville, FL 32204 on Saturday, March 26 at 4:00PM. In lieu of flowers, send donations to Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction and care of Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel.