History is created by people who took specific actions that made a difference or created an impact upon an area or others in their line of work. I think that this area is so much more interesting with the impact these local residents made upon others and for Clay County. While these people lived here, there are some who are buried here. Some relocated or moved to another location and/or not buried here.
John McCain - Previous Orange Park Resident
General Roy S. Geiger - Born / Raised in Middleburg
J.C. Penny - Philanthropist / Creator of Penny Farms
Permanent / Past Residents
For all those interested in Geneology: If you are looking for a loved one in one of Clay County's cemetaries this is the link to conduct a search. Clay County - Find-a-grave
Gaines, Cassie b. January 9, 1948 d. October 20, 1977
Rock Musician. Sang background vocals (one of the Honkettes) for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Her brother was Skynyrd guitarist Steve Gaines. Both brother and sister were killed in the airplane crash that also took the life of Lynyrd Skynyrd voclaist Ronnie Van Zandt. Jacksonville Memory Gardens, Orange Park, Clay County, Florida, USA Plot: Behind main office.
Gaines, Steve [original burial site - new site is undisclosed due to safety reasons] b. September 14, 1949 d. October 20, 1977
Musician, guitarist for Lynryd Skynyrd. The graves of Gaines and fellow bandmember Ronnie Van Zant were vandalized on June 29, 2000. This prompted the families to move the remains to an undisclosed location. Cause of death: Plane crash Jacksonville Memory Gardens, Orange Park, Clay County, Florida, USA
Van Zant, Ronnie [original burial site - current location is undisclosed for safety reasons] b. January 15, 1948 d. October 20, 1977
Musician. Singer for the legendary rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Cause of death: Plane crash Jacksonville Memory Gardens, Orange Park, Clay County, Florida, USA Plot: (Prieviously) In front of the main office, just at the left side of the fork at the main entrance off Blanding Boulevard
Copeland, Joseph Tarr [original burial site] b. May 6, 1813 d. May 6, 1893
Civil War Union Brigadier General. Originally served first as Colonel and commander of the 1st Michigan Volunteer Cavalry, then the 5th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry. He commanded the “Wolverines” of the Michigan Brigade of cavalry until General George A. Custer took over the command on June 29, l863. Died on his 80th birthday. Gen. Copeland was re-interred at Oak Hill Cemetery, Pontiac, Michigan. Magnolia Cemetery, Orange Park, Clay County, Florida
Yarbrough, LeeRoy b. September 17, 1938 d. December 7, 1984 Professional Race Car Driver. During his career he won 14 Winston Cup Races including some of the following: Savannah Speedway on May 1, 1964, Greenville-Pickens on May 30, 1964, Charlotte on October 16, 1966, Daytona Qualifying Race on February 24, 1967, Trenton on July 14, 1968, Atlanta on August 4, 1968, Daytona on February 23, 1969, Darlington on May 10, 1969, Charlotte on May 25, 1969, Daytona on July 4, 1969, Atlanta on August 10, 1969, Darlington on September 1, 1969, and Rockingham on October 16, 1969. Peoria Cemetery, Clay County, Florida, USA
Ross, Zelma Ray b. 1929 d. February 26, 2003
Military Pioneer. She was the first enlisted woman in the United States Air Force. She passed awayat the age of 74. Ross grew up in Texas, became the first enlisted woman sworn into the WAF, now part of the regular Air Force, because of a recruiting sergeant's error on Sept. 30, 1948. As Ross explained years later in a newspaper interview, she was sworn in with a group of Women's Army Corps members 26 days before the official date for the first group of women to report for duty at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. Ross was trained as a photographer and served from 1948 to 1952.
She moved to Jacksonville in 1953 and worked as director of the Lutheran Servicemen's Center, a post she held for 12 years. She also served as field service director of Florida for the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod. Ross helped establish the Seaman's Welcome Center to serve thousands of foreign and U.S. merchant seamen who came through Jacksonville, and also worked as an occupational specialist for the Duval County School System. Jacksonville Memory Gardens, Orange Park, Clay County, Florida, USA
There were an amazing amount of visitors that came on the soft rolling waters of the St Johns River. Most were not famous, some were, however there is the southern generosity that extended to others. Here are some of them.
The families along the St. Johns River, such as the Flemings, opened their plantation homes to northern visitors. Among the visitors to Clay County were such famous people as Ulysses S. Grant, President Grover Cleveland (who had spring water shipped to the White House), Buffalo Bill, and Sitting Bull. The height of tourism in Clay County spanned three decades, from the 1870's to the early 1900's. Tourism in Clay County went into decline when Henry Flagler's railroad reached Miami, and south Florida was easily accessible.
There have been several nationally-known Clay County native born residents. Nixon Smiley was a renowned journalist, naturalist, and the author of 15 books. General Roy S. Geiger, USMC, was a famous WWII General. Augusta Savage, an African-American, was an internationally-known sculptor who was part of the "Harlem Renaissance" in Paris during the 1920's and 1930's. Charles Merrill was the founder of Merrill Lynch.
The military has had a very strong presence in Clay County, particularly since WWII. In 1939, 28,000 acres on Kingsley Lake in central Clay County were purchased by the Florida National Guard as a new training site. In heavy use during WWII, Camp Blanding was not deemed a viable permanent post after the war. It is now a training site for the Florida National Guard with over 70,000 acres, and the museum there is the largest in Clay County. During WWII Lee Field, in Green Cove Springs, was a flight-training center. One of the flight instructors at Lee Field during this time was Ed McMann of the Tonight Show/Star Search fame. At the end of the war, the Navy converted Lee Field into a headquarters for the mothball fleet. Clay County residents have contributed greatly to war efforts throughout the nation's history, and the list of those who fought for their country, on both foreign and domestic soil, is indeed long. www.claycountygov.com
Civilian Concervation Corps. This group of engineers, plummers, and carftsman of various trades came to Clay County, FL and this group of late teens and early 20 year olds created much of the landscape you see in Clay County, FL.
