After a courageous and determined struggle with cancer, Beverly succumbed to the inevitable on April 22, 2013. Her adventurous spirit as well as generosity of soul has always been the hallmark of Beverly’s life. She is one who has traveled alone to China and walked the Great Wall. She is one who has traveled down some of the world’s great rivers such as the Nile, the Volga and the Danube. She has traveled on five of the seven continents and in all fifty States. But in her travels her heart has always belonged to Florence, Italy. Her sister, Mary Richards, will take her remains to Florence to rest eternally.
Beverly was born in Lincoln, Maine on November 28, 1938. She and her family moved to Florida in 1948. She graduated from Pompano Beach High School. She received her Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the University of Florida. She became Director/Instructor in Drama and Humanities at Santa Fe Community College in 1970, a position she held for over two decades. She directed over two dozen major productions at Santa Fe.
Her generosity of soul was manifested in her volunteer work for Habitat For Humanity. Her sense of community spirit was shown in her work with Women For Wise Growth and her leadership of that organization. Her Renaissance spirit was demonstrated in her devotion to the promotion of the Arts. She was one of the original members of the Santa Fe group who founded the Santa Fe Spring Arts Festival. Later in life she was a volunteer at the Doris Barton Art Center.
Being a University of Florida graduate, Beverly remained a Gator fan all her life. She was a particular fan of mens basketball and was a season ticket holder. She followed the careers of many of the young men who went on to play in the professional ranks. An athlete herself, she was a dedicated tennis player.
Beverly is survived by her sister, Mary Richards, brother, Ben Judkins (Maureen) and nephews, Robert, James, and Christopher Richards and Mark Judkins and niece Kimberly Judkins, five grand nieces and two grand nephews.
Once you became Beverly’s friend it was a life-long relationship. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Beverly will truly be missed. She was a mentor to me and I will never forget her.
My sincerest condolences to your family. Beverly will be missed very much by all who knew her or benefited from her many important contributions to our community.
Beverly came to Santa Fe College the year that I did and we retired the same year…my sincere condolences to her family. She was a good friend and will be missed by many at SFC.
Ron Slawson
Beverly, you were a beautiful person with a beautiful spirit. We will miss you at db tennis.
Beverly was a inspiration to us all. We will miss here. Here spirit will always be part of SF Spring Arts.
Condolences to her family. She will be missed by all that knew her.
A light went out in Gainesville. How she shown on all of us and how fortunate we were to have her in our midsst.
A light went out in Gainesville. She brought fun and laughter wherever she went and the town is smaller without her.
I remember so well the problems incurred in the creation of the Spring Arts Festival and the a positive energy she brought to its development. It was always a joy to work with her…She will be missed but her spirit will linger.
My sincere condolences to Beverly’s family. She was a delightful and kind friend. She will be missed.
So sorry to read of Beverly’s passing. She was my neighbor for the 12 years I lived on NW 20th St. Such a kind, generous person– I liked her so much and couldn’t have asked for a nicer neighbor. She was kind and welcoming to everyone on our street, whether they were young students renting for a year or longer-term folks like me. I’ll never forget the daily kindness and attention she gave to a lonely dog in the backyard of the house next to ours– Such a big heart she had, and an admirable volunteer spirit as well. I knew of her extensive involvement in the community, but she was so humble about it–never tooted her own horn. Beverly was a treasure and will be missed by so many.
There’s another star up in the sky,
You’ll notice it as you pass by.
The moon is brighter, your heart is lighter,
Your mind’s at peace, you are my niece.
Love, Aunt Bette
Dear Aunt Bev: You are greatly missed by our family, Chloe, Gabby, Sameera, James and Robin! May you rest in peace after a horrible and painful battle with breast cancer! We know you are in a wonderful place with really nice and fine people like yourself. We really are missing your absence now but one day we shall see you again. Bless you Aunt Bev, we miss you and our hearts are sad.