Opal Dean Dansby

Opal Dean Dansby, passed away on January 8, 2025, in Plant City, Florida, at the age of 95. Born on September 19, 1930, in Jackson County, Tennessee, to Wesley J. and Cora Mae Woodard, Opal's life was a testament to the enduring power of kindness and devotion.
Opal's journey through life was one of deep companionship and shared joys. She was the beloved wife of James Dansby for 58 years, a union that was a cornerstone of her life from 1956 until his passing in 2014. Together, they created a legacy of love and family, a legacy that Opal continued to nurture until her last days.
Opal was a devoted mother; she lovingly raised her sons, Terry Kenneth (Jerrie) Dansby and Donald James Dansby. She was preceded in death by her beloved son, Ronald Henry Dansby, and her brothers Raymond Harold, Jason Herman, and Robert Lester Woodard. She is survived by her brother, Larry Wesley Woodard, and her sisters, Reatha Mae McLoud, Sue Platt, Lilly Frances Alverson, Doris Williams, and Jewel Faye Kinzer.
Opal's legacy extends to her adored grandchildren Jeremy, Thomas, Eli, Samantha, Cody, Ethan, Jamyson, Jaron, and Janel, as well as her treasured great-grandchildren Jayden, Braylie, Gracelyn, Ethan, Daniel, Bradley, Greyson, Ryleigh, Jaxson, Jason, Maverick, and McKinley. Each of them was touched by her kindness, and they will carry forward the lessons of love and family she instilled in them.
A life-long member of the Abundant Life Church of God, now known as Together Church, Opal's faith was a guiding light in her life and an inspiration to all who knew her.
Opal's love for the outdoors was a joy that she carried from her childhood days of fishing on her father's pontoon boat. This passion blossomed throughout her life as she often went camping with her late husband, James. Even as a dedicated homemaker who spent her time taking care of her children, she never lost her affinity for the natural world and the simple pleasures it offered.
As we bid farewell to Opal Dean Dansby, we celebrate a life beautifully lived and her memory will be cherished. Opal's journey on earth has ended, but her story will be told for generations to come, a story of love, family, and the grace that she embodied every day of her life.
Family and Friends will be received on Friday, January 16, 2026, at Lanier Funeral and Cremation Services from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. Burial services will be held afterward at Lakeview Cemetery.
Online condolences can be made at www.lanier.care.
Funeral arrangements were trusted to Lanier Funeral and Cremation Services, 717 Griffin Road Lakeland, FL 33805, (863) 687-3996