Jeryl "Jerry" TOWNSEND

TOWNSEND, Jeryl "Jerry"

82, passed away Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, in her home, surrounded by her children. Jeryl "Jerry" Townsend was born in Philadelphia, PA, and raised in Swarthmore and Buck Hill Falls, PA. At Swarthmore High School she excelled in lacrosse, field hockey and basketball. She entered Rollins College in Winter Park, in 1950 where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. She was on the varsity tennis and basketball teams. In 1954, she married Julius Charles "Bummie" Townsend, III and lived in Louisville, KY, before moving to Tampa in 1957. She was a member of Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church. Jerry coached the Hillsborough Community College tennis team from 1976 until 1981. She then became the supervisor of the tennis facility at HCC until her retirement in 1998.

She was preceded in death by Bummie, her husband of 57 years; and her sister, Joan Weesner of Morristown, TN. She is survived by four children: sons, Byron (Vicki), Bill (Traci), daughters, Donna Carter(Mike), all of Tampa, and Nancy Cothron (Tony) of Bradenton; grandchildren, Joshua, Casey, and Bryce Cothron, Austin Carter and Daniel, Savannah Townsend; nieces, Becky Jo Moles, Mary Ellen Horner and Winnie Moles of Tennessee and Susan West of Kentucky, Ellen Stevens Susan Hanckel; and nephew, John Whaley of South Carolina.

Jerry was very active at Palma Ceia Presbyterian, serving as a Stephens Ministry counselor, and an Elder. She volunteered at LifePath Hospice's thrift store, Life's Treasures, Hyde Park Art Studio, and as a Meals on Wheels volunteer. She was passionate about tennis and her tennis friends, gardening, art, and most of all about her family. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 3 pm, at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church, with a reception to follow in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church, or to the charity of your choice, so that Jerry's work on behalf of others can continue.