Martha "Lavona" Fuqua Boone, 93, passed away Friday, May 19, 2023, after a lengthy illness with dementia.

Lavona was born on January 11, 1930, and raised in Southern Georgia, until going off to Agnes Scott College in Georgia. She continued to further her education at West Florida University. Lavona taught for many years in the State of Florida Public Schools in Pensacola and the Escambia County area. Her specialty was kindergarten. Later in her career, she taught educators wishing to become kindergarten teachers. Lavona also enjoyed playing her piano and teaching young students the art of playing the piano.

She was among the founding members of the original Scenic Hills Country Club. Lavona loved flowers and was a member of the local Garden Club. She was a member of Saint Christopher's Episcopal Church.

She is preceded in death by her son, Lewis Cornelius "Neil" Reese (1994); her daughter, Cornelia Curtis "CeCe" Boone (2017); her parents, Cornelius Gus Fuqua originally from North Carolina, and Esther Graham Fuqua from Georgia; her father-in-law, Curtis Caruthers Boone of Woodland, AL; her husband's two sisters and their husbands, Nancy Evelyn Boone Rollins (Calvin) of Gadsden, AL, and Sara Ann Boone Johnson (Edwin) of Flomaton, AL.

Survivors include her beloved husband of 54 years, Curtis Combs Boone of Pensacola; niece, Ann Rollins Bryant (John) of Gadsden, AL; as well as a very special friend, Sarah Katis of Pensacola.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:00am Saturday, May 27, 2023, at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Pensacola, with Rev. Susan Sowers officiating. A reception will follow the service at the church for friends to greet family. Interment will follow the reception at Bayview Memorial Park in Pensacola.

Special thanks go to the Emerald Coast Hospice nurses Sarah, Susan, and Rilla for the loving care shown to Lavona during this last year. Many thanks go to the staff members, aids, and nurses at Waterford at Creekside during the last months.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Music Department of West Florida University, American Cancer Society, or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.