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With heavy hearts but profound gratitude that she is no longer suffering, we announce the passing of Elizabeth (Beth) Ann Lyons, age 73, on March 21, 2025, at Jacksonville Nursing and Rehab Center. Beth was a great sister, aunt, and a best friend to many; her kindness, generosity and selflessness touched the lives of everyone who knew her.
Beth was born on July 11, 1951, in the John Hodges Drake Infirmary at Auburn University, to William H. Lyons Jr. and Mary Ella Funchess Lyons. Our grandfather was Marion Jacob Funchess, Dean of Agriculture at Auburn University; it was due to the perks of this relationship that our mother desired to return to Auburn University to give birth.
Beth moved with her family from Marietta, GA to Jacksonville, FL at the age of 2, and the whole family would make Jacksonville their lifelong home. She was raised in the Methodist Church as a member of Swaim Memorial United Methodist Church. Beth attended Landon Junior High and graduated from Wolfson High School in 1969 and went to Auburn University for her degree in Education. After college, Beth spent the summer touring Europe, which, along with summer trips to Novia Scotia with her childhood best friend, fostered a life-long love of travel and art. She spent her whole career at Lake Forest Elementary on Jacksonville’s Northside; she was very passionate about her job and loved all her students. She went back to college for a master’s degree and became a Media Specialist, returning to Lake Forest as a Librarian for the rest of her career.
Beth was an avid reader and enjoyed going out to eat with friends and going to the movies. She loved to travel, and her adventures took her to many different countries. Beth often planned trips with her close teacher friends to obscure places of history, art, religion, nature, and architecture. They learned so much from her on these adventures that they wouldn’t have experienced if it weren’t for Beth’s curious spirit. She was very proud of her 1938 brick bungalow home and renovated every room with meticulous detail. We always joked that she had a “Southern Living” home, it was so beautifully decorated it could have easily graced the pages of that magazine.
She is predeceased by her parents, William H. Lyons, Jr. and Mary Ella Funchess Lyons, and her older sister, Barbara Lyons Jansen. Beth is survived by her younger sister, Rebecca Lyons Moseley (John), her nieces, Kristin Jansen Wiley (Trey) and Erin Moseley Crilly (Ryan), her nephews, Clifton Jansen (Amanda) and Tanner Moseley, her great nieces, Hayden Jansen, Brooklyn Wiley and Jansen Wiley, and great nephew, Nathan Jansen.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to all the staff at Jacksonville Nursing and Rehab Center, for their excellent care and patience during Beth’s residency there. We are also grateful to Community Hospice for their end-of-life care and support during these last 6 months as Beth’s health continued to decline from kidney failure and other associated issues.
It was Beth’s wishes that no memorial service or celebration of life be held. If you would like to honor her in some way, please consider a memorial donation to The Foundation of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, 4266 Sunbeam Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32257, or give online at thefoundationcares.org/give. Your gift changes the lives of children and adults living with life-limiting and life-ending illnesses. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/jacksonville-fl/elizabeth-lyons-12293456
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Edward Jennings [Ed] White
Rest in Peace, sweet Beth...
Curtis Frederick Adams
I knew Beth since the first grade at Southside Grammar all the way to Wolfson, hadn,t seen her in yrs but I always thought alot of her,she was so smart, Rest in peace Beth !!!!!
Shannon Barnwell (Class Of 1970) (Andersen)
Beth was so much a part of my life since 1966. She's a bonus mother to my children and a bonus grandmother to my oldest grandson, Fin. She was my sidekick across my life. There is a massive hole in my heart. Of her I wrote...
A Lifetime of Dedication, Kindness, and Knowledge.
A Tribute to Elizabeth Ann Lyons: A Lifetime of Dedication, Kindness, and Knowledge.
Remembering My Best Friend
Beth was in 9th grade when we became best friends. The first summer we were off to our first adventure when we spent the entire time in Nova Scotia with my grandmother, Mammy. Our friendship lasted over 58 years. I had the honor and privilege of forging a lifelong friendship with Elizabeth Ann Lyons, whom we lovingly called Beth. Born in Auburn, Alabama where both her parents and sisters attended college. Beth's parents moved her to Jacksonville, Florida, where she lived her whole life on the south side of Jacksonville. She attended Landon Junior High and Samuel H. Wolfson Sr. High where she graduated in 1969. Beth’s father “Buster” Lyons, while in college was paralyzed in early 20’s by polio and was her model for resilience and determination. He went on to have a successful career as a Dept. Manager of
Equipment Design and Engineering for Southern Bell. It is a testament to his resilience that would go on to define Beth's life. His connection to Franklin D. Roosevelt, having attended Warm Springs in Alabama for treatment, imbued Beth with a deep sense of history and perseverance.
Beth was a soft-spoken, serious, individual who had a voracious love for reading and an appreciation for the great master’s in art and music. Her elegance and poise gave her an air of royal presence, and she always held herself with grace and dignity. There was never a kinder soul than Beth.
During her time at Landon Jr. High, Beth was a popular teenager, admired by her peers for her athletics. Her grandfather, the esteemed Dean of Agriculture, at Auburn Alabama had Funches Hall named after him, and began the tradition of Education in her family. He was a tribute to the family's significant contributions to Auburn university.
Beth's passion for her family roots took her on explorations of places her ancestors had lived over the past centuries, including a notable plantation in Alabama. Her unending quest for knowledge made her a master researcher, delving into subjects such as American History, the Middle Ages in France, and the refined arts, including music and visual masterpieces. She has a special interest in Folk Art and travel to meet local folk artisans and collect their work.
After dedicating several years to teaching Special Education, Beth pursued a master’s degree in library science from the University of South Florida. Her illustrious career spanned over 40 years in the Duval County School system, where she profoundly impacted the lives of thousands of underprivileged children in inner-city schools. Her commitment to education and her students was unwavering, and her influence can still be felt within the community.
Beth was raised in the Methodist church and remained a devoted member of Swaim Memorial Church in Jacksonville’s San Marco area. She was a pillar of strength and compassion, caring for both her parents before they died. Her mother, Mary Ella Funchuss was the first to go, and subsequently, Beth took on the responsibility of caring for her disabled father until his death. Her sisters were also a part of the family care, Barbara and Becky. Barbara died recently and Becky took charge of overseeing Beth’s care during the last years of her life with the same dedication Beth provided to her parents.
Growing up in the Saint Nicolas area of Jacksonville, in a charming red brick house near Assumption Catholic Church, Beth's roots were firmly planted in her community. She eventually bought the house next door to her childhood home to be close to her parents in their later years, showcasing her selfless nature and unwavering dedication to family.
Beth was the epitome of gentleness, kindness, and selflessness. Our friendship, which began in Sunday school, blossomed into a bond that withstood the test of time. Reflecting on her life, I am reminded of the countless ways she enriched the lives of those around her. Her legacy is one of love, knowledge, and tireless service.
Our shared memories are a testament to the extraordinary person Beth was. Her influence extended beyond her close group of personal friends, (Diane, Linda and Vinetta) and me. She touched the lives of hundreds of children and all who had the privilege of knowing her. Beth's commitment to education, her profound love for history and the arts, and her deep sense of compassion and duty to her family and community will forever remain a shining example for us all.
Beth’s story reminds us of the profound impact one individual can have through dedication, kindness, and an unyielding quest for knowledge in her quiet and unassuming life. Her life's journey, filled with academic achievements, profound research, and selfless service, paints a picture of a remarkable woman whose legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.
I cannot count the number of trips we took and places she found with an out of the mainstream history. She loved history, archeology and travel and spent as much time traveling as possible whether on long car trips to the Eastern, primarily Southeastern states, but extended throughout the United States, Nova Scotia and Europe. She was the kind of person who kept very little in terms of material 'things' but only had the highest and best she could find, treasuring antiques, and rare collectibles.
Some more photos of Beth from school days...
Patricia Ann Shaw (Grove)
My heart breaks that our dear friend Beth has left us and to learn that she was suffering with poor health. Beth and i stayed in touch for many years after high school but we eventually lost touch with each other. I have very, very fond memories of Beth and her family - I will always treasure these. I have no doubt that Beth is whole and happy in God's arms now. She will be missed by so many who loved her and all who knew her. Rest in peace dear, sweet Beth!