Faye Langford Rawls died peacefully March 18 after celebrating her 99th birthday on March 8. Born in Covington County Alabama she was the oldest of seven children. Graduating from high school in 1930 she put herself through Troy State Teacher's College by teaching in elementary schools in south Alabama. In spite of a modest salary she helped her brothers and sister financially with college and even paid for the new roof when the family home burned in 1934. Graduating in 1938 she continued to teach until she married Benjamin Haskel Rawls on Christmas Day 1940. In Daytona Beach they raised a family and built Rawls Veterinary Hospital together. It was Haskel's caring touch with animals and clients and Faye's management that made their business a success. Faye was always a teacher at home with three sons and for decades with 5-year old children at First Baptist Church Daytona and at First Baptist Church Holly Hill. She was a leader in Woman's Missionary Union. She advocated for her children and those of others through PTA ultimately serving as PTA County-Council President. In 1958 she co-chaired the Volusia County-wide bond drive to build new schools. The 1962 Mainland High School campus was one of several built with the revenue she worked to raise. Twenty-five years earlier as a teacher she had helped to pass a similar bond referendum for rural schools in south Alabama. In addition to being wife mother educator and business partner Faye was a skillful decorator and remodeler. Having three small children and a small post-war house in 1952 she purchased the roomy 1877 Carter/Cole house in Holly Hill. Vacant for seven years and needing updating for the current century she painted papered knocked-out walls and refinished furniture turning a dusty relic into an inviting home. She was a member of The Order of Eastern Star Delta Kappa Gama AVMA Auxiliary and Indigo Community Church. Her active spirit graciousness and hospitality were an asset to her family and the community. Faye's husband Haskel died in 2004. She is survived by three brothers: Fred Langford (Dorothea) John Langford (Rebecca) Murray Langford (Clara Manell); three sons: Ben (Fran died 1997) John (Linda) and Andy (Malinda); five grandchildren: Morgan (Angela) Stan Charles (Celena) Louis Chris and two great-grandchildren: Ryan and Kayla. Visitation will be at Lohman Funeral Home 733 West Granada Ormond Beach FL on Thursday March 22 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. The funeral will be Friday March 23 at 11:00 a.m. at Central Baptist Church 142 Fairview Daytona Beach FL 32114. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to the Children's Ministry of Central Baptist Church or Hospice of Volusia/Flagler 3800 Woodbriar Trail Port Orange FL 32129.
Condolences may be shared with the family at www.lohmanfuneralhomes.com