Florence Meredith Gordon

Florence Ella Meredith Gordon, aged 88, died on June 7, 2016 in Decatur, Georgia. Born on September 18, 1927 to Lena Mae Henderson Meredith and Charles Alexander Meredith in Cleveland, Tennessee, she was the second youngest of six children: Harvey, Charles, Naomi, Opal and Ruby. She was raised in a family with a strong faith in God and one of the founding families of the Church of God Sanctified in Cleveland. She graduated from College Hill High School and Saint Paul's College in Lawrenceville, Virginia and then taught for one year in Greenwood, Mississippi before returning to Cleveland where she worked as a teacher from 1953-1989. During segregation, she taught at College Hill and then after integration at Allen, Templeton Hill and T.C. Bower.
Sister Gordon was married on December 24, 1961 to James Richard Gordon. The wedding was performed by Bishop Guilford C. Hill and Bishop Guilford R. Hill served as the ring bearer. They were married for seventeen years before her husband's death on January 1, 1979.
They raised their two sons, James Richard Jr. and Meredith Charles, in the church.
Sister Gordon played gospel music on the piano at the Church of God Sanctified throughout her life and at Trinity United Methodist Church later in life. She played music by ear and was able to communicate her love for Jesus Christ and his love for us through her passion for music. She volunteered at Bradley Memorial Hospital, Senior Center and Retired Seniors Volunteer Program. In 1992 she won the Ms. Senior Tennessee pageant for her musical talent.
Sister Gordon was pre-deceased by her son, James Richard Gordon Jr.

Left to cherish her memory are her loving son Meredith Charles (Chucky)Gordon and devoted daughter-in-law Marcia Gordon (both of Decatur, Georgia) and precious granddaughter Grace Virginia Gordon who so lovingly knew her as Mema; nephews Brandon Alexander (Nashville, TN) and Joe Weaver (Ettrick, VA) and nieces Dahlia Greathouse (Jacksonville, FL) and Iris Robinson (Surry, VA). Also grieving her passing are many church families including Saint James Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Trinity United Methodist Church, and The Church of God Sanctified, as well as a great host of friends who shared in her commitment to Christ and to service in her hometown of Cleveland,TN.

The family would like to thank the staff of Sunrise Decatur who cared for her with great love during her final six years of life as well as the staff of Crossroads Hospice who helped her body transition peacefully so that her spirit could again sing with that great choir of angels.

Home going services will be held Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 12:00 noon at Church of God Sanctified in Cleveland, Tn., with pastor, Bishop G.R. Hill officiating. The family will receive friends one hour before the service at the church from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Interment will follow at Fort Hill Cemetery.