Sara Frances Hines Staskiews

Sara Frances Hines Staskiews, age 81, of Tallahassee, Florida, passed away on Tuesday, January 7. Sara was born on a snowy winter night in Somerville, Tennessee, on January 30, 1943, to the late Mildred Tomlin Hines and Joseph Leslie Hines. After attending Fayette County High School, she received her BS from Lambuth University and an MA from Memphis State University. Degrees in hand, Sara left Tennessee in 1965 and spent the rest of her life in Florida – Jacksonville, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton – before finally settling in Tallahassee in 1982.

Gregarious and dedicated, Sara devoted her career to serving her community. Her occupations included science teacher, library page, deputy clerk with Leon County Traffic Court, judicial assistant to a circuit judge, and research assistant (Office of Citizen Services) for the executive office of Governor Jeb Bush. She retired in 2003.

Sara grew up in the Oakland Methodist Church but also attended Oakland Presbyterian. As an adult, she was a congregant at various Methodist and Presbyterian churches, including those in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. While living in Tallahassee, she attended St. John’s Episcopal Church and later St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral.

A talented artist and musician, Sara enjoyed painting china and playing the piano. Her other hobbies included traveling the world, seeing live theater, reading quality fiction, tending her garden, and visiting her family and friends. She was a member of the Mary and Martha Guild (St. Peter’s Anglican), the Tallahassee Porcelain Art Guild, the Tallahassee Music Guild, and the Springtime Tallahassee Spanish Krewe. Sara was a lifelong environmentalist.

She is survived by her nephew Jay Hines and nieces Amy Hines Johnson and Alana Hines Carter; her great-nephews Ian Hines, Will Jensen, Carter Johnson, and Cody Hines; her great-nieces Maren Hines and Casey Hines; and her many cousins who enriched her life: George Moorman, Mary "Polly" Jennesse, Amy Molinero, Michael Jennesse, Meg Britt, Margaret Ann Rhea, Janet Griffin, Gordon Tomlin, Tara Horton, Troy Tomlin, Anita Myers, Sandra Sanders, and Jeffery Cooley. Along with her relatives, she counted her very special godchild, Amy King Eker – an outstanding pediatric nurse – as part of her family.

Sara is preceded by her brothers James “Jimmy” Hines of Ohio and Robert Hines of Tennessee. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude’s Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.