Irene Valentine

Elizabeth Irene Valentine, 75, of Cross City passed away surrounded by her loving husband and children March 11, 2020. Mrs. Valentine was born May 4, 1944 in Branford, Florida to the late Adel and Elizabeth Holtzclaw. She retired after 40 years with the Dixie County School Board, as a bookkeeper. While there she always tried to get perfect audits, and helped form the first Parent Teacher Association and later the Dixie County Union. She was instrumental in getting girls softball at Dixie County High School and Volunteered as the Grey Lady at Dixie County School District in the 60’s. Mrs. Valentine will always be remembered as trying to be a positive influence to everyone she encountered and that she did her best to help them. She was an active member at Lydia Baptist Church, where she served as a Sunday School Teacher and helped with Women’s Missions until her health prohibited it. She had been a member of the Cross City Women’s Club for several years. In her spare time, Mrs. Valentine enjoyed yardwork, gardening, scrapbooking, listening to gospel music, and spending time and meals with her family. Mrs. Valentine is survived by the one and only love of her life for 62 years, her husband James Valentine, her sons Kevin James Valentine and Gregory William Valentine (Dawn) both of Cross City, her daughters Elizabeth Ann Palmer (Donald), Kimberly Sue Tucker (Omer), and Karen Jean Bannister (Danny) all of Cross City, her brothers J.M. Holtzclaw of O’Brien, FL and Roger Holtzclaw of Brnaford, FL, her sister Jo Allie Downing of Cross City, 18 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and other extended family members. She was preceded in death by her sisters Helen Matthews and Lorine Johnson, her grandson Kevin James Valentine, Jr., and her granddaughter Danille Bannister. Funeral services for Mrs. Valentine will be held 3:00 PM Sunday, March 15, 2020 at the Rick Gooding Funeral Home Cross City Chapel, with Rev. Cole Downing, Rev. Jarrett Thomas, and George Land officiating. Interment will follow in Cross City Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Arrangements have been placed under the care of Rick Gooding Funeral Home Cross City, Florida 352-498-5400 and Chiefland, Florida 352-493-0050. Please sign the online guest book at rickgoodingfuneralhomes.com

Irene Valentine

May 4, 1944 - March 11, 2020