Jean L Boone

Jean L. Boone,78 of Palm Coast, Florida passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 10, 2012, with her husband of 54 years, Walter R. Boone, and her son, Rob Boone, at her side. She had courageously and with much personal fortitude and dignity battled many health challenges for several years. She was the eldest daughter of Isaac and Evelyn Miller, who, along with her two sisters, Marva and Deborah, predeceased her. Jean was a native Floridian, however when she was a child, her family moved to New York City. She was an educator who spent 32 years working in the inner city schools of NYC, working as teacher, assistant principal and principal. She was a graduate of Hunter College (now Lehman College) and also received a Master’s Degree in Reading Curriculum from the Teachers College of Columbia University; she also did post graduate work at the City College of New York and the College of New Rochelle. She was a member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority. She retired in 1989, and in 1992 she and her husband moved to Palm Coast where Jean became very active in the African American Cultural Society. She became a lifetime member and held several positions in the organization, including co-chair of the Board of Directors. Jean was a gourmet cook, world traveler and an avid bridge player whose habit of reading the New York Times every day and watching CNN every night waned only in the last days of her life. In 2001, she received a kidney donation from the now late Bruce Pierce, essentially a stranger who attended Palm Coast United Methodist Church, as did Jean and her husband. Bruce became Jean’s guardian angel when his donation provided her with a new lease on life. She and her family will be forever grateful for the time made possible through his generous and selfless act. Recently, Jean and her family were blessed to have found two wonderfully gifted caregivers, Tasha Whipple, her primary caregiver, and Cora Solomon. Tasha not only provided daily care for Jean, but also volunteered to be tested and proved to be a match for another kidney donation. Unfortunately, Jean’s fragile state of health made a second transplant impossible. Jean is also survived by her daughter-in-law Susan Snyder, her nephew Ray Riley, her niece LaTanya Riley, her sisters-in-law, Anne Lambert and Mary Boone, her brothers-in-law, Leroy Boone and Stewart Boone, and a host of other nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends whose lives she touched with immeasurable kindness, humor, and generosity of spirit. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at 2 pm with a 1 pm viewing at Palm Coast United Methodist Church, 5200 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast, FL 32137, (phone, 386-445-1600). A tribute and celebration of life will be held on Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 2 pm at the African American Cultural Society (AACS), 4422 North US-1 (near White View Parkway), Palm Coast, FL 32135, 386-447-7030. A burial service will be held on Saturday, September 22, 2012 at 2 pm at Volusia Memorial Park, 550 N. Nova Rd., Ormond Beach, FL 32174, 386-677-8979. Flowers are welcome, however anyone who prefers to may make a donation in Jean’s memory to the African American Cultural Society (AACS), P.O. Box 350607, Palm Coast, FL 32135-0607 www.africanameicanculturalcenterpalmcoast.org, or to their own favorite charity. Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.volusiamemorialfunerals.com. Arrangements are under the care and trust of Volusia Memorial Funeral Home, 548 N. Nova Rd., Ormond Beach, FL