Lillian Stump

Lillian Stump was born on November 2nd, 1919 as the youngest of the legendary Stump sisters. She passed away peacefully while residing at Penny Farms Pavilion on Tuesday, April 11th, 2017. She lived to the fullest and contributed with unparalleled dedication to her family and her lifelong community of Starke, Florida. A beloved daughter, sister, aunt, great aunt and great, great aunt, Lillian generously shared her love and her support for all of the family, enhancing the lives of each as she relished the time and devotion all shared with her. A community leader and respected businesswoman in Starke, Florida, for over half a century, Lillian tirelessly worked to enhance the lives of others through dedicating her leadership as well as financial support to social, educational, healthcare and religious institutions. A lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church, Lillian served as a Deacon, Elder, and Treasurer for years and contributed to the building and maintenance of this historic institution throughout her life. She received the prestigious Santa Fe Community College Woman Distinction award in 1992 for her service and contributions to the Womans Club of Starke, Shands at Starke previously Bradford County Hospital Auxiliary, Santa Fe Community College, The American Cancer Society, and the First Presbyterian Church, to many she was indeed the Woman of the Century, as her efforts surpassed all expectations and her dedication was without measure. The hours as a volunteer, whether in the gift shop at the hospital or as a pink lady on the wards of Starkes hospital or the hours she spent behind her table on the sidewalks of Starke collecting money for the American Cancer Society one dollar at a time, magnified the true meaning of devoting ones life to service. Ms. Stump was quite literally always on the stump, reminding all of the meaning of service and rewarding all with her great smile and unparalleled wit of the importance of their dollars for the benefit of others. As family members will attest, Lillian was unique and quite a personality. A graduate of Orange Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Lillian soon found a calling that took her far beyond Starke as she voluntarily enlisted the U.S. Army as an army nurse in WWII. Following the troops on D-Day, Lillian served on the battlefields of France and later Germany as she cared for soldiers in field hospitals, saving lives and providing emotional support during the most challenging times of the last century. Lillian returned to Starke after the war and soon transitioned from her career as a nurse to work with her parents, Fred and Eva Stump, in the family business, Stumps Department Store. After her fathers death, Lillian took over management of the family business and became a leader in Starkes business community. Deeply affected by her fathers affliction with cancer, Lillian soon became the leader of the local chapter of the American Cancer Society. This was the first important step in her community service to which she devoted the remainder of her life.Lillian was proceeded in death by her parents, Fred and Eva Stump and her sisters, Evelyn Griffin and Marjorie Thomson, and is survived by her four nieces and nephews and their spouses - Fred and Ruth Ann Thomson, Marjorie and Phillip Jacobs, Evelyn and her late husband Jim Womack, Henry and Cydney Thomson, and her great nieces and nephews and their families, Bill and Shelly Hamilton (Ansley and Fisher), Brad Hamilton (Justin and Alexandra Lillian), Todd Thomson (Irelyn, Bryre, and Covington), Elie and Denise Jacobs (Aiden and Adina), Michael and Brittany Jacobs (Lyon Joshua), and Joshua Jacobs of blessed memory, making her a great, great aunt in the fullest sense of the word. Lillian will long be remembered and respected by her community, her church and her family.In lieu of flowers, contribution can be made to The First Presbyterian Church of Starke, 921 E. Call Street, Starke, FL 32091. Interment will be at 4:00 P.M. on Sunday, April 23, 2017 at Waukeenah Methodist Church Cemetery. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, April 24, 2017 at the First Presbyterian Church of Starke. Arrangements are by JONES-GALLAGHER FUNERAL HOME OF STARKE 904-964-6200. Cemetery Waukeenah Methodist Church Cemetery 108 W. Cemetery Road Monticello FL 32344 US Graveside Service Sunday, April 23, 2017 4:00 PM - Waukeenah Methodist Church Cemetery 108 W. Cemetery Road Monticello FL 32344 US Memorial Service Monday, April 24, 2017 11:00 AM - First Presbyterian Church of Starke 921 East Call Street Starke FL 32091 US Funeral Home Jones - Gallagher Funeral Home - Starke 620 E. Nona Street Starke FL - 32091 US (904) 964-6200