Friday, Aug. 01, 2008

Julianne Yancey Florence, 1946-2008

By Scott Price

Staff Writer

Grapevine native Julianne "Julie" Yancey Florence, 61, was remembered by about 650 people on Saturday in a memorial at the First Presbyterian Church of Grapevine as a woman who dedicated her life as a wife, mother of four and a community and church volunteer. She was buried in the Grapevine Cemetery.

Florence, the daughter of the late Bill and Betty Yancey, died July 23 after an 18-year struggle with lupus. Lupus is a chronic disease, affecting mostly women, in which the immune system, for unknown reasons, becomes hyperactive and attacks the body.

The Rev. Warner Bailey, who was the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Grapevine from 1964 to 1967, spoke at the service.

"I must confess to being under a sense of unreality at this moment," Dr. Bailey said, expressing a sentiment common to many in attendance who found Florence’s passing hard to believe.

Bailey, who had come to Grapevine after graduating from seminary, shared memories of the Yancey-Florence wedding, the first he performed at the church.

The Florences moved several times as Don was transferred, but always returned to northwest Grapevine. All of Julie’s children graduated from Carroll, where she worked for many years. She was a master gardener in both Texas and Indiana. She was actively involved in the Tarrant County Extension Office, the Grapevine Garden Club, Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange (GRACE), Meals on Wheels and with her church. She received a GRACE volunteer hours award and a Lifetime Service Award from the Presbyterian Women. Her passions also included Bible study, reading and antiquing. She felt her greatest calling was in being a wife, mother and grandmother, according to both family and friends.

When ill, daughter Jenny Florence Moore said, her mother would have good days in which she felt great and others when she was in pain.

"She was always a woman of grace, and the disease didn’t change that," Moore said.

Grapevine resident Paula Wilbanks was one of Julie’s closest friends.

"She was an amazing person," Wilbanks said. "She always had a smile on her face, ready to lend a hand."

"So many people didn’t even know about [her illness]," Wilbanks said. "She was a very strong person."

The Rev. Nancy Drake, associate pastor at First Presbyterian, who conducted the memorial service, recounted a story from years ago when Julie and Don were living in New Jersey: Florence was in a grocery store with her four children, three of whom were very close in age. Drake said a woman in the checkout line asked Julie if she were Catholic. "Without missing a beat, Julie replied, 'No, I’m a prolific Presbyterian.’"

Florence specified that her service be conducted as a traditional Presbyterian worship service, including the singing of hymns and the recitation of the Apostle’s Creed. Drake titled her sermon, "Bearing Much Fruit," a description of Florence’s life.

Florence was an ordained elder in the church and served on many committees.

She volunteered in the church nursery and taught Sunday school, Drake said. "She truly loved children." "Julie had an unwavering faith in God," Drake said.

"She pushed herself beyond what other people would have done," Drake said. "She is a person I never heard an unkind word about. She truly lived her faith."

Survivors: Husband of 43 years, Donald Austin Florence Sr.; children, Jenny Moore and husband, Paul, of Grapevine; Becky Smith and husband, Ryan, of Franktown, Colo.; Donald Austin Florence Jr. and wife, Karen, of Harrogate, England; and William Clinton Florence and wife, Gina, of Nashville; grandchildren, Abby and Jake Moore, Ben, Nathan and Samuel Smith, Austin and Hannah Florence; brothers, John Yancey and wife, Hilary, of Dallas, and Bill Yancey Jr., and wife, Donna, of Nashville; cousins, Susan Butler of Colleyville and Will Wickman of Grapevine; and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins.

Memorials to honor Florence may be given to the First Presbyterian Church of Grapevine Memorial Fund,1002 Park Blvd., Grapevine 76051.

Charles D. Young contributed to this article.