Dorothy Jean Vaughan

Dorothy Jean Braswell was born near Geneva, Alabama on May 30, 1934. She grew up on a farm outside Geneva with her parents James Yarborough Braswell and Josephine “Lula” Howell along with six siblings. She was a 1952 graduate of Geneva High School.

Dorothy Jean was married on August 21, 1954 to Holland Vaughan of nearby New Hope, Florida. She initially worked as an office assistant. When her husband was ordained as a Methodist minister, she devoted herself as a supportive minister’s wife and together they served churches early on in Georgia and Nebraska, and then Florida from 1960 until retirement. Upon retirement in Gainesville, Florida, she and Holland led several group trips to the Holy Land. She lived her last nine years at Westminster Woods on Julington Creek, near Jacksonville, where she enjoyed social activities, singing in the choir and friends.

Dorothy Jean is preceded in death by her husband Holland R. Vaughan and her five siblings, James Braswell, Huston Braswell, Rosa Paige, Betty Jo Kirkland and Charles “Bo” Braswell; and is survived by her youngest sister Oneida Gentry. She is also survived by her two children, Norman Vaughan (wife Judy) and Eleta Sucsy (husband Peter); six grandchildren: Erin Sheppard (Ronnie), Meghan Aspinwall (Jessie), Neil Vaughan, Keith Vaughan, Anna Sucsy Beckham (Will), and Kai Sucsy; and four great grandchildren (Jace Aspinwall, Cole Aspinwall, Lily Sheppard and Theodore Beckham).

Dorothy Jean died peacefully on December 2, 2024 at Westminster Woods. She will be remembered as a loving wife, devoted mother and supportive friend. Her funeral and burial will take place at Mt. Ida Congregational Methodist Church in New Hope, Florida on Saturday December 14, 2024 with a gathering at 1:00pm and a service at 2:00pm central time.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Cemetery Fund, Mt Ida Congregational Methodist Church, c/o Sherwood Levins, 2026 Sherwood Lane, Westville, FL 32464.