Aaron Blake "A.B." Markham

Aaron Blake (A.B.) Markham, 90, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at 10am, surrounded by his family.

A.B. was born in Lake City, Florida on October 15, 1927, to Ralph Leighton Markham and Myrtis Dortch Markham.

He had just spent his 90th birthday in October having his favorite oyster dinner with his family that he loved so dearly. He was educated in Columbia County schools.

A.B. loved his Lord, his family, his church and his friends and neighbors. He was a faithful member who attended the Lake City Church of God all his life. His parents raised him in the church and he served as a trustee, a member of the Pastor’s Council, received prayer requests in the late Albert King’s “Golden Nuggets” Sunday School class and was a member of the church choir where he loved to sing the praises of God. A.B. was well known for his kind and gentle attitude and his extraordinary honesty.

A.B. worked for the Columbia County Road Department for 14 years as the foreman for District 4. He then became a full time farmer and rancher and took great pride in his county-wide reputation for having the straightest crop rows of anyone. He loved working in the field with his tractors and he loved his cattle, even naming his favorites, and took great care of them.

A.B. is survived by his loving wife, Margie Kerce Markham of 65 years, his three beautiful daughters, Cindy Diane (Ervin) Gaylard, Deborah Ann (Arky) Rogers, Wanda Elizabeth (Fred) Parnell, and one handsome son Stephen Blake (Sonja) Markham. A.B. was preceded in death by one son, Aaron Benjamin (Sheila) Markham. He is also survived by one brother, Roy D. (Shirley) Markham, and one sister Louise (Kenneth) Witt, his wonderful grandchildren Robin (Derek) Barrs, John (Leigh) Gaylard, Scarlet (Ward) Frisina, Luci (Hunter) Ketcham, Walt Parnell, Leslie Rogers, Austin (Ashley) Gaylard, Blake Markham, Arky (Jessica) Rogers, Fiona (Phillip) Hanewinkel, Erin Markham, Jewel (David) Corrao and Sofia Schmidt. Nine precious Great Grandchildren are Brett and Bentley Barrs, Caitlyn and Chandler Frisina, Grant Gaylard, Leighton and Hunter Ketcham, Ashton Gaylard, Onyx Markham and Jackson Corrao. A host of nieces and nephews also survive. A.B. especially loved his wife’s Kerce family very much.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at the Lake City Church of God. Visitation and viewing will be from 1pm-3pm, with services starting at 3pm. Interment will be at Bethel Methodist Church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of A.B. Markham to Haven Hospice or the Lake City Church of God. 

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