Mary Pat Stubbs

Mary Pat Stubbs, a resident of Mexico Beach, FL, died on February 2, 2024, at age 95.  She died peacefully in hospice care in Jacksonville, FL, while surrounded by her family.

Pat was born in Pensacola, FL, on December 19, 1928, the daughter of Vivian Vickery Stubbs and Malcom Murray Stubbs.  As a very young girl, Pat, her mother and older sister, Laura “Lottie” (Stubbs) Williams, moved to her mother’s hometown, Marianna, FL, following the death of her father at the start of the Great Depression.  Pat grew up in Marianna, graduated from Marianna High School, and attended Florida State College for Women.  She was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church.

Pat embarked on a career as a businesswoman, which she pursued all of her working life.   Most of Pat’s business career was spent in the peanut and insurance industries, in sales and marketing capacities.  Employment opportunities took her to Moultrie, Atlanta and Columbus, GA, and Chicago, IL.  She spent many years with AFLAC, rising to an executive with that company and to president of its marketing subsidiary, Communicorp.  While in the peanut industry, Pat was responsible for the first shipment of peanuts for peanut M&Ms.  During her Communicorp tenure, Pat was an invited guest to the gala ball celebrating the opening of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta in 1986.

Following retirement, Pat built and resided in a beach house in Mexico Beach.  In 1996, she developed an idea for a business venture investment in southern Africa.  She and a partner opened, in 1999, the newly constructed Isandlwana Lodge in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which they ran for many years and which served as a developmental outpost in rural South Africa.  Pat spent much of her time on site at the Lodge, and appreciated and admired many people she met and with whom she worked.

Wherever she lived, Pat was involved in her church and her community.  She received Paul Harris Fellow recognition, the highest form of recognition a Rotary Club can bestow, presented to a Rotarian or a member of the community who has made an outstanding contribution to the community.  The Rotarians recognized her for providing impetus for and assistance with establishment by the Rotarians of dental clinics in parts of KwaZulu-Natal.  Pat was also very proud to be honored as a Gracious Lady of Georgia in 1991, bestowed to individuals for contributions to community and state.

In both her business career and personal life, Pat traveled extensively throughout the United States and the world.  She visited multiple European destinations, China, Japan, India, the then Soviet Union, Central and South America (including a trip down the Amazon River), and, of course, numerous fascinating destinations in Africa.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Lottie (Gerald), and her niece Murray Williams Bianco (Rudy).  She is survived by her nephew Andrew B. Williams II (Melanie) of Washington, DC, niece Rebecca Leigh Williams, great nieces Lauran Bianco Loftin (Keith) and Katherine Slade Bianco, and great-great nieces Elizabeth and Lillian Loftin, all of Jacksonville.

Pat was a major influence (and force) in the lives of all of her nieces and nephew, who she loved dearly.  And they loved and admired their Aunt Pat.  She afforded them many enriching and fascinating experiences they may have otherwise missed.  She enhanced their education and knowledge of the world and cultures, and provided many outings and trips of just pure fun they will treasure all of their lives.

Throughout her life and career, Pat developed dear friends with whom she stayed in touch and enjoyed visiting, traveling, corresponding, and keeping up with developments of their families.  Those friends included, but were not limited to: friends from Marianna, especially the Sub-Deb Club of Marianna High, and those in Mexico Beach, Columbus, Atlanta, the “Moultrie Mafia”, and Isandlwana.

Pat enjoyed her work, learning new things, travel, experiencing different cultures, reading and classical music.  She definitely enjoyed gathering with family and friends, especially at Mexico Beach.

A former employee and friend stated Pat “influenced so many people to be better and to strive for excellence, but not at the cost of what was fair or kind.”

Pat will be cremated and services will be held in Marianna, FL, for which plans will be announced in coming days through Jacksonville Memory Gardens, Funeral Home and Cemetery, Jacksonville, FL (jacksonvillememorygardens.com).  For those who wish to, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the First United Methodist Churches of Marianna and Port St. Joe, FL, and the World Wildlife Fund.