Patsy Lee Herndon

Patsy Lee Herndon

Heaven gained another Angel on January 3, 2022, at 2:22am.

Patsy Lee Herndon was born on February 12, 1938, in Lakeland, Florida as the second youngest of eight children. She married her high school sweetheart, Melvin L. “Buddy” Herndon, on July 6, 1957. After traveling with her husband and children for 19 years, Buddy retired from the Marine Corps and they moved back to Lakeland. During these 19 years the family lived in Hawaii, Florida, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama and California.

Patsy enjoyed reading and spending time with her family as well as her church family. She especially enjoyed the annual Fourth of July beach week in Longboat Key with her husband, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters and many nieces and nephews. She was a fierce defender of family and had a heart of gold that reached out to all in need.

Patsy is preceded in death by her husband, Buddy Herndon, of 53 years, her parents Oren Henry Wheeler and Helen Thomas Wheeler, brothers William Wheeler Sr., Robert Wheeler and George Wheeler and sisters Blanche “Snooks” Moeller and Edna Scott.

Patsy is survived by her brother Irving Wheeler, sister Nancy Alderman and children Melvin L Herndon II (Tina), Randall L. Herndon (Suzanne), and Karen Butts. She was blessed with grandchildren Welthy Cunningham (Chris), James E. Butts III, Melvin L. Herndon, III (Trish), Justin Butts (Betsy), Alexandra Bowles (Sean), Torin Herndon (Dorothy) and 16 great grandchildren.

Due to issues with Covid and immediate family, a small, intimate funeral will be held at Lakeland Memorial Gardens on Saturday, January 8, 2022. A Memorial Ceremony for all family and friends will be held on Patsy’s birthday- February 12, 2022, at 11:00 am at Webster Memorial Baptist Church -1135 North Chestnut Road Lakeland, FL 33805.

If desired, In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org. There is a chapter of this organization that specifically supports patients and families in central Florida.

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