Claudia Emma Jersey RN

Claudia passed away at Sacred Heart Hospital Sandestin, Florida on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. She is survived by her daughters, Col Laura Ann Sampsel (USMC, Ret), and Dreama Lynn Carlson; her sons-in-law, Captain Kirby Sampsel (American Airlines, Ret) and Ernie Carlson; grandchildren, Davie Norwood and husband, Howard Samples, Maj Craig Sampsel (USMC) and wife, Julia, Lauren Sampsel and Callie (fur baby); great-grandchildren, Dreama T. Samples, Mason Donald and Naomi Ann Sampsel; her brother, Toye Hill and wife, Sue; and her sisters, Laura Rhodes and husband, Dan, and JohnAnn Owen and husband, Doug. Claudia was blessed by a strong relationship with her caregiver, Lydia, and Laura Ann's sisters, Georgia and Caroline. She was adored by her beloved King Charles Spaniel, Leo.
Claudia was born in Tallassee, Alabama to Lucy Jones and Claude Richardson on May 10, 1932. Her father, Claude, died when Claudia was three months old and when Claudia was five, her mother married Toye Hill. "Red" Hill, as he was called, became Claudia's cherished "daddy." They lived in Greenwood, South Carolina and Royston, Georgia.
After graduating from Royston High School, Claudia attended Anderson Hospital School of Nursing, Anderson, South Carolina, graduating in 1954 as a Registered Nurse (RN). Throughout Claudia's nursing career she was licensed in South Carolina, Georgia, California, Missouri, Washington, DC, Alabama, and Hawaii. She specialized in Oncology and was praised and recognized as a wonderful, loving, skilled, and generous nurse. Claudia was proud to say the baseball legend Ty Cobb was among her patients.
In 1960, Claudia married the love of her life, Army Col. Donald H. Jersey. Throughout her time as an Army wife, they moved twenty-three times to locations all around the world including Germany, Hawaii, The Philippines, California, Washington, DC, St. Louis, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Huntsville, Alabama. Claudia proudly served as an Arlington National Cemetery Lady, assisting the families of wounded and deceased service members returning from Vietnam. She stood strong as a military wife and mother.
Throughout her life, Claudia was an avid gardener and garage-sale enthusiast. She could give you a perfect playback on who had betrayed whom on "The Young and the Restless" and watched enough Weather Channel to qualify as a semi-professional meteorologist. Claudia lived with a packed "go-bag" ready to travel anywhere, any time and acted as the stand in during many a deployment, TAD/TDY, R&R, or family emergency. She was the strongest of all advocates for an old fashion, sit down and visit! She always made time for coffee (and ice cream) with friends and family. Claudia, a registered Republican, was an advocate for God, country, and an adamant supporter of the military. As a Christian, Claudia attended the Methodist Church, wherever she lived, but remained a loyal member of her home church; Vanna United Methodist Church, Vanna, GA.
Claudia was an integral part of the lives of all those who knew her. She proudly bore the titles of "Ms. Claudia" and "Granny Claudia." She cherished family, both blood and chosen, and was the fiercest and most loyal of friends. Her shoulders, broad and strong, were used by many to cry on and for support. Sassy, blunt, yet unquestionably loving, a common phrase one would hear from her in tough times was "you can fail, but you may not quit. Now go put on some lipstick." She was truly one of a kind. Claudia will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and all that knew her.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Destin Methodist Church on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., with a visitation one hour prior.
Claudia's final resting place will be in the Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, DC, with her husband, Don. The date of interment is at the discretion of Arlington and will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Legion Post 296, 311 Main Street, Destin, Florida, 32541 or http://www.davis-sikesamericanlegionpost296.com Funds will be used for the roof replacement.