Vernon T. Grizzard

Vernon Grizzard, 67, of Tallahassee, passed away on Thursday, October 6, 2011, at Big Bend Hospice House.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 15, at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 2810 North Meridian, Tallahassee, FL, at noon.

Vernon was born on March 17, 1944, in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of the late Vernon Townes Grizzard, Jr., and Mary Godwin Kidd. He was raised in Jacksonville, FL. While attending the University of Florida College of Law, he met and married Dana Baird. They have resided in Tallahassee 34 years.

He is survived by his wife; the children he adored, his daughter Marisa Grizzard (Tallahassee) and step-son Soren Brockdorf (Carmen) of Jacksonville; his mother, Mary Godwin Kidd (Lynn) of Social Circle, GA; his grandchildren, Alexandra and Nicholson Brockdorf (Jacksonville); his brothers and sisters, James Grizzard (Francine) of Stanley, NC, Mary Ellen Martin (Wyatt) of Arden, NC, Noel Burns (Thomas) of Clayton, GA, Braxton Grizzard (Audrey Higuchi) of Honolulu, HI, and Jimmie and Fran's sons, Jay, Alan (Anita) and Evan (Tiffany) Grizzard; his wife's mother, her sister and brother and their children, and many other relatives and friends.

Vernon lived his beliefs, that being, to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Memorials may be to Big Bend Hospice or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

Arrangements are under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.