The Reverend Lynn Cecelia Ramshaw

The Reverend Lynn Cecelia Homeyer Ramshaw (born 9/2/1937) died on 12/23/25 after several years of declining health related to dementia. She was surrounded by her family, including many of her grandchildren, for last rites earlier in the day and left us later that night.

Lynn led an amazing life, starting as the middle child in her family in New Jersey. She excelled in sports as a young lady and developed a life long love of the game of golf. She graduated with High Honors with a BA degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1959 and shortly thereafter moved to south Florida with her husband Jack. She became a mother to 3 children and nurtured them until she went to work as a social worker for HRS in the state of Florida. There, she learned of the struggles of many families, resulting in her development of the TRUE fund-Toward the Relief of Urgent Emergencies- created to assist those in need who did not qualify for government funding, through the giving of local churches.

This love of people in need led her to further studies in the church and her ordination as a deacon in the Episcopal Church in 1980, one of few women ordained at that time in the Episcopal Church. She served at the Diocesan office in Miami under the Bishop and obtained her Masters degree in Social Work from Barry University in 1991. She continued to follow God's calling and moved to New York where she studied to become a priest at General Seminary in Chelsea and was ordained as such in 1996 in St Laurence Chapel in Pompano Beach Florida- a homeless shelter/care center where she served as executive director prior to studying for the priesthood. During these years she made multiple missionary trips to Haiti, spreading the good news of Jesus to the people there, providing spiritual guidance and assistance with Food for the Poor.

Following her ordination to the priesthood she followed God's calling to Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland where she ran their program for the homeless for several years. She left Cleveland to be closer to her daughter Tracy in Chicago as she was expecting her granddaughter. There she served as associate rector at St John the Evangelist Church in Flossmor, Illinois until her official retirement. She then spent many years as a personal spiritual counselor, providing faithful guidance to those in need.

She returned to Florida, where she lived out her life as a retired associate at St James Episcopal Church in Ormond Beach. She served in church, gave sermons, and was the clergy sponsor for the Daughters of the King, until she was no longer able. She continued to counsel and love everyone she came across and left a positive impact on many people.

She was cared for in her home by Tracy, Dylan, and Jessica, as well as many friends, family, and caregivers until she moved to the Memory Care Unit at Paradise Pointe. There she was "safe, loved, and well cared for," by the loving staff, and her many visitors. Special thanks to her Goddaughter, Maggie Powers and Fr Ernie Bennett for their love and devotion to Mom!

Lynn was predeceased by her parents and her older brother Bruce. She is survived by her younger sister Janet, her cousin Dick (Lee), her sons Bruce (partner Brandie/Remi), and David (Leslie), her daughter Tracy (partner Balaji) and grandchildren – Charlotte, John, David, Lou, Cierrah and Ellie, Jack and Eli, and Jessica and Dylan.

Her funeral is scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 11am at St James Episcopal Church in Ormond Beach, Florida. In lieu of flowers Lynn requested donations be made to Halifax Urban Ministries – HOPE PLACE.