Mrs. Laveenia Dicks Elder of Lake City, Florida passed away peacefully from a sudden illness on January 9, 2024 at North Florida Regional Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. She was surrounded by family. Laveenia was devoted to her family and encouraged and prayed over them all. She will be remembered for her sweet, caring personality, her strong Christian faith, her love of her family. She had a wonderful laugh and found humor in almost everything. Laveenia loved Christmas and passed on this love to her children and grandchildren. She was always ready to listen and brought wisdom to every situation.  It was an absolute joy for her to visit her pine tree farm, which was beautifully tended to by her loving husband, Kent. She often said the farm was "the most beautiful place on God's earth".  Words cannot express how much she will be missed by her family and loved ones.

Laveenia was born in Lake City, Florida, but grew up in Chiefland, Florida where her father was the FFA teacher and advisor for 20 years. Upon graduation from Chiefland High School, she attended Florida State University and graduated with a BS Degree in Elementary Education. The last 19 years of her 30 years of teaching, were spent at Melrose Park Elementary in Lake City. She was a member of Hopeful Baptist Church.

Laveenia is predeceased by her parents P.T. Dicks and Evelyn Moore Dicks, her first husband, David Smith, and her brother Wayne Dicks. She was married to David Smith until his death in 1992. She is survived by her husband, Kent Elder, and three children: Evelyn Smith Brewer (Mark) of Orlando, William (Billy) Smith (Marie)of Mt. Juliet, TN,  and Elisa Smith Hewett (Joe) of Lake City. A sister, Dorothy Feagle (Aldine), and sister-in-law Betty Dicks also survive. Laveenia also leaves behind four step children: Kenny Elder (Lynda) of Groveland, FL, Dennis Elder of Groveland, FL, Gena Campbell of Fairfield, Pennsylvania, and Marc Elder of Lake Wales, FL.  Five grandchildren  Kyle Smith, Kaitlyn Thoreson, Jordyn Thoreson, Bethany Brewer, and Zoe Brewer also survive. She also leaves behind ten step grandchildren Ashley Bell, C.J. Elder, Collin Elder, Cara Elder, Caylee Elder, Colton Stryker, Delaney Elder, Derek Campbell, Hunter Campbell, and Landon Campbell. A number of nieces, nephews, and great grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services for Mrs. Elder will be conducted on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Hopeful Baptist Church.  Interment will immediately follow in the church cemetery.  A time of visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.