Mabel Gillette

Mabel Highsmith Gillette March 11, 1914 * May 20, 2012 Mabel Highsmith Gillette entered her final rest May 20, 2012 at the Advent Christian Village, Dowling Park, FL. She was 98 years young. Mrs. Gillette was born to Isaac Edmund Highsmith and Ellen Boyette Highsmith on March 11, 1914 in Brantley County, GA. She attended school in Brantley and Ware Counties. She moved to Jacksonville, FL in 1932 and married Leslie Elbert Gillette on April 1, 1934 in a double wedding ceremony at the Springfield Advent Christian Church at 16th and Laura Streets. She was a strong advocate of foreign and domestic missionary work and Christian youth services. She served in several official capacities in the local and conference levels of the Women’s Home and Foreign Missions and in other positions within the Advent Christian denomination for several years. She was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel in August 1964. “Aunt Mabel” was also a counselor at Camp Suwannee for many summers. She loved classical music and sang in her church; with the Jacksonville Civic Chorus under the direction of Dr. Carter Nice, and “The Friday Musicale” in Jacksonville. She enjoyed traveling, playing her piano, working in her flower garden and sitting on the back porch watching “God’s creatures”. She was predeceased by her parents, eight of her ten siblings and her devoted husband of 63 years. She is survived by a sister, Vinoma Condon, a brother, William Highsmith, many nieces and nephews, her son and daughter, 3 grandchildren and their families including, 2 great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandson. Funeral services were conducted 11:00 AM Saturday, May 26, 2012 at the New Hope Advent Christian Church, Waycross, GA. Interment followed in the Thomas Cemetery. Memorial services will be held at the West Jacksonville Advent Christian Church at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Good Samaritan Center, P.O. Box 4345, Dowling Park, FL 32064.