Obituary of Vella Rankin

Vella Elizabeth McFatter Rankin, age 96, of Bristol, Florida passed away Monday, May 6, 2013. When her husband Cloyce was elected sheriff of Liberty County, Vella helped him as jailer, matron, secretary, bookkeeper, civil clerk, and radio dispatcher. She was also a homemaker and a member of Lake Mystic Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Link Cloyce Rankin; parents Leslie L. McFatter and Sallie Owens McFatter Weaver; great-grandchildren, Justin and Caleb Summers; her sisters, Lucy Stopczy, Eloise Blue, and Opal Weaver; brothers, Louie Weaver and Percey Weaver. Survivors include two sons, Cloyce Rankin and wife Judy of Bristol and Mike Rankin of Rock Bluff Community; two daughters, Gabra Barber and her husband Dexter of Bristol and Sandra Coxwell also of Bristol; eleven grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild a brother, Harry Weaver and wife Jackie of Live Oak, Florida; a brother-in-law, Phil Stopczy of Rochester Hills, Michigan; and sisters-in-law, Ada Rankin Revell and Lavern Bailey Rankin, both of Bristol and Gertrude Weaver of Vernon, Florida. Funeral services will be held 4:00 p.m. ET, Thursday, May 9, 2013 at Lake Mystic Baptist Church with Reverend Jerry Chumley and Reverend Clyde Roberts officiating. Interment will follow in Lake Mystic Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6:00-8:00 p.m. ET, Wednesday, May 8 at Adams Funeral Home in Blountstown. Adams Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Phone 674-5449. Online condolences may be made at adamsfh.com.