Life Story for Zelma Lorine Wardlaw Damon
In the small town of Madison, Florida, a baby girl named Zelma
Lorine was born on January 7, 1940, to Mr. and Mrs. Theodore and
Vanilla Twiggs Wardlaw, the youngest of five siblings. She accepted the
salvation of Christ at the age of nine and was baptized at Mt. Zion AME
Church, Madison, the family church. Education was received through
the Madison School System, with her graduating in 1958 from Madison
County High School.
In 1959, Zelma was wed to Robert L. Edwards, and they were blessed
with two children, Dominique and Robert, Jr. Later, she married
Johnnie Lloyd Damon, and they were together as one until his passing
in 1975.
Upon moving to Jacksonville, Florida, she joined Shiloh Baptist
Church in 1973, Rev. A.B. Coleman, Sr., Pastor, and served in the
Senior Adult Choir, taught the Women’s Sunday School Class, and
joined the A.B. Coleman Social Club. She later joined St. Andrew Baptist
Church in 1987, Rev. A.B. Coleman, Jr., Pastor, and has served as
the Women’s Day Chairman and as a Program Organizer. Sister Zelma
served faithfully until her health failed.
Zelma had a thirst for knowledge, attending Edward Waters
College, and FCCJ (1988-1990) in Journalism. She was also concerned
about her children’s education, and served on the Advisory Board of
Rutledge Pearson Elementary School. Her employment resume included
the U.S. Postal Service (Mail Sorter), A.B. Coleman Funeral Home
(Secretary/Treasurer), Florida Times Union (Northside Community
News writer), and Mary Singleton Center Lunch Reservationist. In her
retirement, she enjoyed writing poems and socializing with friends.
Sister Zelma Lorine Damon was called to be with the Lord on
December 17, 2018. Preceded in death were her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Theodore Wardlaw; husband, Johnnie Lloyd Damon; siblings, Coleman
Wardlaw, Leola Burke, Nellie Mae McCloud and brother-in-law, Willie
Moore.
Survivors include beloved children, Dominique L. Mann (Ulysses)
and Robert Edwards, Jr. (Cassillida); loving sister, Mary Helen
Moore; precious grandchildren, Rodell Edwards, Kolon Mann, Charnique
Mann, Alyssia Edwards, Katrita Mann, Charity Garmon and
Precious Mann; 21 beloved great grands and three great great grands;
nieces, to include Willette Houston and Wanda McCloud; nephews and
cousins; other relatives and friends, to include Arnett Waddell, Angela
Croutch Haynes,Talita Monroe, Janette Wanton and Shirley Jordan.
Lorine was born on January 7, 1940, to Mr. and Mrs. Theodore and
Vanilla Twiggs Wardlaw, the youngest of five siblings. She accepted the
salvation of Christ at the age of nine and was baptized at Mt. Zion AME
Church, Madison, the family church. Education was received through
the Madison School System, with her graduating in 1958 from Madison
County High School.
In 1959, Zelma was wed to Robert L. Edwards, and they were blessed
with two children, Dominique and Robert, Jr. Later, she married
Johnnie Lloyd Damon, and they were together as one until his passing
in 1975.
Upon moving to Jacksonville, Florida, she joined Shiloh Baptist
Church in 1973, Rev. A.B. Coleman, Sr., Pastor, and served in the
Senior Adult Choir, taught the Women’s Sunday School Class, and
joined the A.B. Coleman Social Club. She later joined St. Andrew Baptist
Church in 1987, Rev. A.B. Coleman, Jr., Pastor, and has served as
the Women’s Day Chairman and as a Program Organizer. Sister Zelma
served faithfully until her health failed.
Zelma had a thirst for knowledge, attending Edward Waters
College, and FCCJ (1988-1990) in Journalism. She was also concerned
about her children’s education, and served on the Advisory Board of
Rutledge Pearson Elementary School. Her employment resume included
the U.S. Postal Service (Mail Sorter), A.B. Coleman Funeral Home
(Secretary/Treasurer), Florida Times Union (Northside Community
News writer), and Mary Singleton Center Lunch Reservationist. In her
retirement, she enjoyed writing poems and socializing with friends.
Sister Zelma Lorine Damon was called to be with the Lord on
December 17, 2018. Preceded in death were her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Theodore Wardlaw; husband, Johnnie Lloyd Damon; siblings, Coleman
Wardlaw, Leola Burke, Nellie Mae McCloud and brother-in-law, Willie
Moore.
Survivors include beloved children, Dominique L. Mann (Ulysses)
and Robert Edwards, Jr. (Cassillida); loving sister, Mary Helen
Moore; precious grandchildren, Rodell Edwards, Kolon Mann, Charnique
Mann, Alyssia Edwards, Katrita Mann, Charity Garmon and
Precious Mann; 21 beloved great grands and three great great grands;
nieces, to include Willette Houston and Wanda McCloud; nephews and
cousins; other relatives and friends, to include Arnett Waddell, Angela
Croutch Haynes,Talita Monroe, Janette Wanton and Shirley Jordan.