June L Rayburn

Rayburn, June Crosby Lee, 91, of Lakeland, Florida passed away peacefully on October 16, 2026. She was predeceased by her parents, A. M. Lee and G. Pauline Lee, siblings JoAnn Crocker (Harrell), and William M. Lee (Carole). She is survived by her husband, R. Donald Rayburn and her children, Larry Rayburn (Joan), and Kellye Pollard (Rich), her sister-in-law Doris Edison, as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews, and cousins.

She was born in Evergreen, Alabama on May 29, 1935, and spent her early childhood there, later moving with her parents to Plant City, Florida where she met the love of her life, Donald Rayburn. She graduated from Plant City High School and attended Stetson University. When Donald entered the University of Florida, she became a lifelong, loyal Gator fan. June and Donald married on February 23, 1954, and moved to Fort Jackson, South Carolina during Donald’s service in the Army with the 101st Airborne Division, where June worked as a legal secretary in Columbia, South Carolina. After military service, June and Donald returned to Plant City to work in the family business, Rayburn Brothers Potato Company until 1961 when they moved to Tampa where they raised their children and Donald went to work for the Columbia Brokerage Company becoming a partner. They returned to Plant City in 1977 and lived there until finally retiring to Lakeland at the Estates at Carpenters.

June was a devoted wife and mother who was always active in the PTAs of all the schools her children attended and supported her children and their friends in all of their school activities, always stressing the importance of a good education. She believed it was an honor to serve others and volunteered her support whenever possible. While in Tampa she was a very active member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and later for many years at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Plant City where she helped found the Tender Loving Care Ministry to help care for those in the parish who were sick or shut in. She served on the Altar Guild and was a member of the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) and the Junior Women’s Club of Tampa. Through the Hillsborough County Extension Service, she became a Master Homemaker while still finding time for playing bridge with friends in Tampa and Plant City and playing doubles in the Women’s Tennis League at the Walden Lake Country Club in Plant City. Like Donald, she was a gifted musician, playing the piano and teaching piano lessons to young people. Later in life, she taught herself to play the xylophone and bells so she could join Donald as a member of the Lakeland Concert Band giving concerts for years and bringing joy to many. She believed it was an honor to serve others and volunteer her support whenever possible.

June loved to entertain, and with Donald, attend Gator Football games with their friends and, in their younger years they frequently traveled throughout the U. S. and Canada.

Above all else, June will be remembered as a loving wife and mother and someone who put others ahead of herself. She was strong in her Christian faith and did not fear death.

The family wishes to thank the medical and support staff at the Estates at Carpenters, Good Shephard Hospice, and Katina Freeman as well as all Father Derrick, Carolyn Durst, Janet Santossouso, Vicki and Mark Connor, and all those at St. Peter’s who visited and prayed for and with June.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church 302 Carey St. Plant City, FL 33563. 813-752-5061. There will be a graveside service on October 26, 2026, at 1 pm at Shiloh Cemetery, Plant City, Florida.