William "“Steve”" Southerland Sr.

Mr. William "Steve" Southerland, Sr., 79, of Lynn Haven, FL, went to be with his Lord on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017, surrounded by his family. Born in Panama City on Sept. 27, 1937, he was a graduate from Bay High School in the Class of 1956, and was a charter student at Gulf Coast Community College. Steve attended the University of Miami and Florida State University. He received his Funeral Service Degree from John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science in Nashville, TN, in 1966. After graduation he returned home to join his parents, Ray and Bobbie Southerland, in the family business that was started in June of 1955. As President of Southerland Family Funeral Home, he expanded the business beyond Bay County to neighboring counties.

Throughout his career Steve was defined by his service to the community that he loved so much. He was the recipient of the Gulf Coast Community College Distinguished Service Award, where he served on the Foundation Board and remained a lifetime member. Steve was one of the founders of the Bay County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue Dive Team. He also served on the board of the Anchorage Children's Home, the Board of Directors for Covenant Hospice of NW Florida, the Health South Advisory Board, and was the Past Chairman of the Easter Seal Drive. Steve was past president of the Florida Funeral Directors Association and past member of the National Funeral Directors Policy Board.

He was an ordained deacon of the Baptist faith and Deacon Emeritus of First Baptist Church of Panama City. Steve taught Sunday School most of his life and was a founding member of the Men's Ministry of First Baptist Church. He served as a member of the Disaster Relief Team of the Florida Southern Baptist Convention and was currently an active member of Emerald Coast Fellowship.

Steve is preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Bobbie Southerland. Of all his lifetime accomplishments, he was most proud of his family which includes: his loving wife of 55 years, Mary Sue Nordan Southerland, four children, Steve Southerland, II and wife Susan, Tim Southerland and wife Stacey, Suzanne S. Way and husband Bart, and Shane Southerland, all of Bay County; eleven grandchildren, Samantha Nobles and husband Daniel, Stephanie Southerland, Kayla Cook and husband Trevor, Ally Southerland, Blake Southerland and fiancé Cindy Sheffield, Abby Southerland, Katie Southerland, Grace Way, Andrew Southerland, Johnny Way, and Michael Southerland, and one great-grandchild due in July 2017; sister-in-law, Joanne McKinney and husband Mike, of Bay County, brothers-in-law, Bobby Nordan and wife Jeannine, of Walnut Creek, CA, and Charles Nordan and wife Marisa of Southport, FL, and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, at 10 a.m. at the Emerald Coast Fellowship with Dr. Steve Taylor and Mr. Jack Reese officiating. Interment will follow in Lynn Haven Cemetery. Mr. Southerland's grandsons and nephews will serve as active pallbearers: Blake Southerland, Andrew Southerland, Johnny Way, Michael Southerland, Trevor Cook, Daniel Nobles, Michael McKinney, Mark McKinney, J.J. Nordan and Brian Miller. Honorary pallbearers will be Eddie Hart, Bobby Hodges, Bill Lawrence, Clyde Mills, Ted Haney, Ronnie Weathersby, John Vann, Tony Pons, Boyd Bunting, Dean Deaton and Neal Jones. The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home on Sunday from 4-6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Youth Camp Fund at Emerald Coast Fellowship in memory of Steve Southerland, Sr. Expressions of sympathy may be submitted and viewed at www.southerlandfamily.com

Southerland Family
Funeral Homes
100 E. 19th St.
Panama City, Fla. 32405
850-785-8532