Obituary – Betty Jayne (Solomon) Edwards

Betty Jayne (Solomon) Edwards was born April 5, 1927, to proud parents Samuel Solomon I and Nora Jaynes Solomon.

She died November 8, 2022, and was predeceased by her four siblings: Samuel Solomon II, Thomas Solomon, Elaine Solomon Oliver, and Jimmy Solomon; her granddaughter, Melissa Ashley White; her beloved husband, Otho Winton Edwards Jr. “Gobbler”; and son, Otho Winton Edwards III “Bobo.”

Her funeral will be held at Centenary United Methodist Church in Quincy, Florida, on Saturday, November 12, at 11 a.m.

A visitation will be held at 10 a.m. in the church parlor.

A burial service will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery in Quincy.

Betty Jayne lived a long, full life marked by gratitude, purpose, good friends, laughter, travel, and family.

She was a strong woman of action and service; she knew what it meant to “TCB” (Take Care of Business).

If you were ever in need, she was a friend you could rely on to show up and to provide tangible support.

She will be missed deeply by the ones she leaves behind, but we are grateful to have had her as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, friend, community member, and role-model for more than 95 years.

We celebrate a life well lived.

Betty Jayne had a happy childhood growing up on the Solomon Dairy Farm.

She had vibrant childhood memories of her family cottage on Carrabelle Beach, riding horses, and tap dancing her way across the state.

She was a member of the band, where her true love, Gobbler, offered to carry her French Horn home. The rest was history.

While attending Huntington College in Montgomery, Alabama, Gobbler returned from fighting the War in the Pacific and (literally) swept her off her feet.

They were happily married for 62 years.

Betty Jayne and Gobbler spent their early marriage in Gainesville, Florida, where their lifelong commitment to following the Florida Gators began and never ceased.

After college graduation they returned home to Quincy, where Gobbler and Betty Jayne were blessed with three children in under three years; Suzanne, Betsy and Bobo were her heart’s delight.

She loved the life she and Gobbler built in Quincy, while raising their children surrounded by a community of family, cousins, and lifelong friends.

Betty Jayne was not afraid of hard work and was quite good at it!

It is worth noting that her career was during a time when many women did not choose a professional path.

She was the proud owner of Edwards Florist, and was an officer in the state-wide floral association.

However, after “everyone in town died the same week” and, therefore, needed flowers, she decided it was time for a new path.

This decision led to a 30 year career with the Democratic Party and State government.

She was hired by Pat Thomas, the then-Chairman of the Democratic Party of Florida.

They were a strong team and she became his Chief Assistant when he was elected as Florida State Representative, Florida State Senator, and ultimately became President of the Florida Senate.

She was an excellent role model of how to be a loving mother, grandmother, and friend while managing a demanding, time-consuming career.

At her retirement, the “He Coon” then-Governor Lawton Chiles, proclaimed that she was the “She Coon” for the State of Florida.

She was so proud of the mark she and her career made on her community and State and it is not lost on her family that she died on Election Day!

Betty Jayne cherished her grandchildren and great-grands. She savored not only seeing them grow up, but also to foster relationships with all of them who adored and enjoyed her wit and spirit.

In the end, Betty Jayne enjoyed the little things like bird watching from her porch, doing crossword puzzles, reading, playing bridge, watching great-grandchildren perform and visiting with friends and family.

Betty Jayne was grateful for her life and that she was able to maintain a high quality, independent life for all her 95 years.

In the words of her friend Adelaide Suber, “It was great to be 95 and know it!”

She leaves behind daughters Suzanne Doddridge (Rock) and Betsy Edwards, daughter-in-law Mary Howard Edwards, and seven grandchildren: Jonathan Doddridge (Claire), Brian Edwards, Brent White (Michelle), Becca Pustejovsky (Jason), Ryan Doddridge (Abby), BC Collins, Lindsley Pritchard (Justin).

She also leaves behind her great-grandchildren: Jacob, Jonah, Daisy, Jackson, Mason, Rocky Doddridge; Kaiya Price; Hagan and Brynn White; Wyatt, Lovie Jayne, and Bea Pustejovsky, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, if you would like to honor her memory, please contribute to the Centenary United Methodist Church of Quincy or the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Bend.

Obituary – Betty Jayne (Solomon) Edwards

Obituary – Margaret Walker McBride

Gadsden County Times – Legals – 11/17

Gadsden County Times - Legals - 11/17

Recommended

Quincy commissioner defeated in run-off

Cooperative Extension: 4-H Day at the Capitol

Popular News

Newsletter

Category

Site Links

About Us

Welcome Back!

Create New Account!

Retrieve your password

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?

Obituary – Betty Jayne (Solomon) Edwards

Support local journalism. Subscribe to The Gadsden County Times.

Subscribe

Obituary – Margaret Walker McBride

Gadsden County Times – Legals – 11/17

Gadsden County Times - Legals - 11/17

Recommended

Quincy commissioner defeated in run-off

Cooperative Extension: 4-H Day at the Capitol

Popular News

Newsletter

Category

Site Links

About Us

Welcome Back!

Create New Account!

Retrieve your password

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?