Karen Rozier Verlander

Karen Rozier Verlander, "KK", passed away peacefully on Friday, February 16, 2024, surrounded by her family after a long life of valiantly and gracefully battling chronic health challenges. She was 75 years old.
Karen was born March 11, 1948 in Eustis, Florida to Dr. Jacob and Georgiana Rozier. She lived in Japan as a young girl while her father served as a doctor in the U.S. Army before moving back to Winter Park, Florida where she and her two brothers grew up. In 1955, she attended Camp Crestridge for Girls in North Carolina and began a lifelong love and appreciation for a place that meant so much to her and had a profound impact on her life. Camp Crestridge is where she accepted Christ as her savior, and she forged many relationships that lasted for years. She earned the rank of Belle, camp's highest honor, and also was awarded Queen Crester. Karen supported Camp Crestridge and Camp Ridgecrest for Boys by recruiting hundreds of children from Jacksonville, including her three sons and nine grandchildren, and always looked forward to attending closing ceremonies each summer.
As a teenager, Karen was a cheerleader and played on the Winter Park High School tennis team. She was also an active member in the Winter Park Baptist Church youth group. She went on to attend Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and was a proud member of the Chi Omega Sorority where she met many life-long friends and served as Pledge Mother in 1968. She was also proud to share her Chi Omega pin with two of her granddaughters.
While at Emory, she met the love of her life, Chris, who was at Georgia Tech. After her graduation from Emory, Karen and Chris were married in Winter Park on June 20, 1970, and moved to Anniston, Alabama while Chris was in the U.S. Army. They moved to Gainesville, Florida in 1971 for graduate school where she earned a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Florida. Upon graduation, she and Chris moved to Jacksonville in 1972 where they started their family and lived for the next fifty-two years.
Karen served the Jacksonville community in numerous volunteer roles while also supporting Chris' successful business career and civic involvement. She was a member of the Junior League of Jacksonville, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Women's Board of Wolfson Children's Hospital. She and Chris were also proud to serve on the organizing committee for the Billy Graham Crusade in Jacksonville. She served Chris and her family tirelessly and faithfully for more than fifty years and was quick to say that serving her Lord, family, and others was her true source of joy and fulfillment.
Karen and Chris were longtime members of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church (HAB), where she sang in the choir. It is also at HAB where she developed a passion for teaching children's music and found her true calling. For over 30 years, she directed children's choirs at HAB and Deermeadows Baptist Church. Affectionately known as "Mrs. V", she taught hundreds of children and directed many musical productions which brought her great joy. While her boys were in the youth group at HAB, she traveled on many youth mission trips and attended events as a leader, mentor, and chaperone. Karen introduced many children and youth to Jesus during her decades serving Him. She truly embodied servant leadership throughout her life.
In addition to her three sons, "KK" was so proud of her nine grandchildren and great grandson. For more than twenty years, she would drive carpools, attend their games, plays, concerts, school productions, graduations, and weddings, never allowing health challenges to get in the way. She loved her individual moments with each grandchild and was intentional about being involved in each of their lives and making them feel special.
Faith, family, friends and serving others is what filled Karen's cup. She loved cooking for family dinners, birthdays, and holidays. Karen was a world traveler and always looked forward to planning the next trip. She also loved the Florida Gators and Florida-Georgia game tailgates.
While the final years of her life were limited by her health, she continued to share her faith and positivity with everyone she encountered. Whether a fellow patient, doctor, nurse or caregiver, Karen greeted them with optimism and instilled hope in all. She was always more concerned about others than herself, even on her sickest days. Anyone that met Karen Verlander was a better person because of it.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Dr. Jacob Riley Rozier and Georgiana Jennings Rozier. She is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Chris A. Verlander; her three sons, Alan Verlander, Scotty Verlander (Stephanie) and Mike Verlander (Ali); her two brothers, Jake Rozier (Laurie) and Jim Rozier (Tammy); her grandchildren, Abigail Walsh (Nate), Kate Wilson (Jordan), Maggie Verlander, Mary Verlander, Mac Verlander, Charlotte Verlander, Cooper Verlander, Kit Verlander, Davis Verlander and Landry O'Connor; great grandson, Ray Walsh; her sister-in-law, Cathy Soud; and so many other family members whom she loved deeply.
Her family would like to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude to Mayo Clinic Jacksonville and the countless doctors, nurses, and caregivers throughout Karen's life. They would also like to thank Martha "Duby" Mendieta for her tireless and loving care. KK loved Duby, Mario and their family and we are grateful for them.
A memorial and celebration service will be held for Karen on Monday, February 26th, at 11:00 a.m., at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church. The service will be followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church or to Ridgecrest Foundation to support Camp Crestridge.