John Edward Booth

John Edward Booth – 4/24/1937 – 1/9/2024 John Edward Booth, age 86 of Crawfordville, Florida passed away on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, in Tallahassee. John was born in Po Valley, Virginia, to Claiborne Neal Booth, Sr. and Omey Bertha Mae Caudill Osborne Booth. He was one of thirteen children and on October 24, 2023, he became an only child. He was preceded in death by his parents, Claiborne and Omey Booth. Also preceding him in death were his two brothers (Junior and Bill) and ten sisters (Pansy, Ruby, Louise, Lucretia, Sally, Joann, Mae, Milchin, Evelyn, and Wanda). Also preceding him in death was his wife and soulmate, Teresa Feeney-Booth. John (Mr. Booth was his dad – he wanted you to call him “John”) only finished the 10th grade. He quit school and went to work in various jobs. He drove trucks hauling produce, RC Cola’s, and anything else that needed to be transported from Point A to Point B. In or around 1960, he passed his GED test and applied for a position in the Tallahassee Post Office. He delivered mail by walking routes, rural routes, and any other means that was needed to get the mail from Point A to Point B. In the mid 1960’s, John received a call to the ministry. In 1967, he and his family made the move from Tallahassee to Colorado Springs where he was a member of the pioneer class of the Nazarene Bible College. Even though he was a full-time student at the Bible College, he also worked full-time in numerous positions. Although he never served in the military, he worked at Fort Carson Department of the Army during his time at the Nazarene Bible College. He graduated from the Nazarene Bible College in 1970 – and moved back to Florida to his first pastorate at Swift Road Church of the Nazarene in Sarasota, Florida. Sarasota was a long way from the North Florida area that had been “home” for so long, so the move was made first to Carrabelle (Carrabelle United Methodist Church) and then to Tallahassee (Bethel United Methodist Church). After his time at Bethel, he went back to work for the U.S. Post Office. His heart was always about sharing Jesus and ministering to people and for over a year, on Sunday mornings John and Faye and Randy and Rhonda and RuthAn would load up in the VW bug and drive 100 miles to the Bonifay Church of the Nazarene. The church was small and had not been able to find a full-time pastor, so Sundays consisted of Sunday School and Church then wonderful Sunday dinners (on a rotating basis) at the homes of the Lucas’s, the Crutchfields, and the Parkers and other church members who’d “take care of the preacher and his family for the afternoon” – then back to the church for Sunday evening services and then 100 miles back to Tallahassee to get ready for the regular work week ahead. Due to a back injury at the Post Office, John became unable to make the Sunday drives back and forth to Bonifay. One of his proudest moments was when he became an Ordained Elder in the Church of the Nazarene. After a long period of being on disability with a back injury, he went back to work for the Post Office. He received numerous commendations for his productivity and his proficiency for the different tasks he performed at the Post Office. (He had over 40 years of service when he retired.) While working nights at the Post Office, John met his best friend and the love of his life, Terry. Years later, they married and were married for 32 years before she passed away in 2017. Their last 5 years together consisted of Terry being in the hospital for over a year and then bedridden for 4 years at home. Except for the occasional home health nurse visit, John took care of Terry. Terry’s doctor commented that he should have been a nurse because he took such good care of her. He told the doctor that he wouldn’t do it for pay, but he did it for love. Terry loved Beanie Babies and John loved supplying them for her. In 2018, after Hurricane Michael, he made the decision to give some of Terry’s precious stuffed animals to some precious children in Jackson and Calhoun Counties whose lives had been completely changed by that terrible storm. Over 1,800 stuffed animals were wrapped, boxed by grade and class size, and carried by U-Haul to the different schools and pre-k’s. He was not feeling up to driving that day, but he still made sure that things got from Point A to Point B. In January of 2023, John was hospitalized for the first time in over 20 years. He was very sick and when he left the hospital, the doctor told him he was so glad to be discharging him – that most people that were in the shape that he was in were not sent home. He had to rebuild his strength and ability to walk – and he worked hard. Then in June, he got COVID and that set him way back but he still worked hard to get back to himself. He wanted to get back to being able to drive his car – “I haven’t driven my car one time this year” – but that wasn’t able to happen. On January 9, 2024 at 3:05 a.m., God decided that John didn’t have to keep pushing to get back to himself – instead he could let go of his earthly body and go to HIMSELF. John is no longer struggling and pushing – he is with His Savior. Although his professional career in ministry was not long in years, for the rest of his life, he ministered to people, he offered care and comfort to those suffering and grieving, and he shared Jesus every time he had the opportunity. In his last 11 hours in the Emergency Room – he was still loving people and sharing God’s love. He was a very special, kind, generous, and compassionate man and he will be missed. John leaves behind his three children – Randy Booth in Climax, GA; Rhonda (Don) Dulgar in Crawfordville, FL; and RuthAn Letts in Tallahassee, FL; six grandchildren – Kyle Letts, Robbie Dulgar, Emily (Ben) Seivers, David Dulgar, Andrew Dulgar, and Destinee Letts; and four great grandchildren – Kylie, Emma, Blakely and Waylon; numerous nieces & nephews; his “adopted” children Bruce Lynn and Brenda Lawson and a host of friends and neighbors whose lives and hearts were affected by this sweet man. We do not grieve as those who have no hope. We live on in hopeful anticipation of seeing this wonderful man again – pain free, agile – but with that same wonderful smile that he shared with everyone he met. The family will receive friends Friday, January 12, 2024, 3:00-5:00 pm at Family Funeral Home/Harvey Young Chapel. Funeral Service will be Saturday, January 13, 2024, 11:00 am at Lake Ellen Baptist Church and the family will receive friends one hour prior to service starting at 10:00 am. Skip & Trey Young along with Paula and Kimberly are assisting the family. 850-926-5919 Familyfhc.com

John Edward Booth

April 24, 1937 - January 9, 2024