Claudia Irene Lovett

Claudia Irene Lovett was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, February 13, 1943, the daughter of the late Ira Mitchell Lovett and Helen Larkins. She passed away peacefully at home on the night of January 22, 2015.

She was educated in the Philadelphia Public School System. Claudia was married to Nathaniel Pelzer, Sr. in 1961, and to this union three children were born. After several years as a loving and devoted wife and mother, she returned to school and completed the requirements to get her general equivalency diploma (G.E.D.). She continued her education by earning her Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy from Temple University in 1977. She retired from her profession as an Occupational Therapist in 2013.

During her life, Claudia, also worked in other occupations which included her own retail business (Foxtrot Dancewear), the United States Internal Revenue Service, Duval County Public Schools and the Medical Foster Home Program for the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System.

She was recognized as one of the distinguished few phenomenal women honorees at the Tots ‘N’ Teens Theatre 9th Annual Scholarship Benefit Banquet, “Portraits of Phenomenal Women”, on Mother’s Day in 1995.

Claudia had many great qualities that included, but were not limited to, her kind, generous, nurturing spirit. She loved people and animals, alike. She was actively involved in community and civic issues and was happiest when helping others. She also appreciated nature and especially enjoyed gardening and watching the humming birds as they flew around and drank the nectar she prepared and left for them in her garden.

Claudia was preceded in death by her parents and two older sisters, Shirley Thompson and Helen Walston. To celebrate her life and cherish her memory she leaves three children, Kiz Pelzer-Fenning (Paul J. Fenning), Nathaniel Pelzer, Jr. (Michael E. Allen) and Erika Pelzer; two grandchildren, Nay-Lin and Beth; three brothers, Robert Pugh, Luther C. Pugh and Ira (Brother) Lovett; three sisters, Eleanor Corbit, April (Cindy) Glenn and Toya Hendricks and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in her name to either Community Hospice of NE Florida; or The National Wildlife Foundation.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2015, 11:00 am at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home located at 729 S. Edgewood Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32205.