Florence Lee Day
September 14, 1919 – March 6, 2024
Florence Day, 104, formerly of Umatilla, went with the angels on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, surrounded by her loving family in Atlanta, Georgia.
Often called Flo Baby in the best of circles, she was a loyal daughter, sister, wife, doting mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, aunt, and friend. She will be greatly missed. Florence lived through the roaring 20’s, the Great Depression, two World Wars, the dawn of both the space age and the internet age, as well as two global pandemics. She never spoke poorly of anyone, never complained, and was so quick-witted she left you surprised and laughing.
Florence celebrated her 104th birthday this past fall. Born in Ariton, Alabama on September 24, 1919, she was the fifth of six children born to the Siddie Mae Miller and James (Jim) H. Headley. Her mother passed away when Florence was six years old and she spent the rest of her childhood at The Alabama Baptist Children’s Home in Troy, Alabama. At the age of fourteen, she moved to Umatilla, Florida with her father and two older sisters. After finishing school, she worked for the Health Department in Eustis, Florida.
Florence frequently walked past the local grocery store after work, where she met the store owner, Alonzo (Lonnie) W. Lee. Lonnie and Florence married in 1938 and together raised four children: Nell Lee Bennett, Jewell Lee Morris, Lonnie G. (Jerry) Lee, and Jimmy R. Lee.
In between raising children, sewing, and fishing, one would find her working at the Austin’s fruit packing house, Umatilla packing house or at Golden Gem in Umatilla, Florida for 50 years until 1990. She moved from Umatilla to Atlanta, Georgia in 2000 and has resided with her daughter Nell for the last 24 years.
Florence was predeceased in 1965 by her husband of 27 years Lonnie, in 2005 by her second husband of 37 years Melvion Day, in 2000 by her daughter Jewell, and in 2022 by grandson Frank Morris. She was also predeceased by much loved former son-in-law Marvin Day in 2019 and grandsons-in-law Duane Aldrich in 1997 and Howard Gutwillig in 2022.
Florence is survived by daughter Nell and her children, Terri Gutwillig, Rebecca Aldrich (Tillman Morris), and Jacqulin (Scott Phillips), and great grandchildren Taylor, Peyton, Rudd and Holland; late daughter Jewells’ children: Cathy Morris, Mary Morris, great grandchildren Julie and William, and great-great grandson Seth; son Jerry (Anna) and their daughter Angela Lee; son Jimmy (Lisa) and their children Tara (Jeff) Stevens, Beau Lathren, Bryan (Elise) Lee, Jennifer (Travis) Cowart, and 14 great grandchildren; granddaughter-in- law Edee Morris, former son- in-law Jack Bennett, nieces and nephews, and countless numbers of friends.
A graveside service will be at held 2 p.m. March 15, 2024 at the Umatilla Cemetery, Golden Gem Dr, Umatilla FL 32784.
If you would like to honor Florence’s life, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or to the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes, 325 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan, AL 36303 (online at www.alabamachild.org/give).
