Gladys Creighton

Fla. Gladys Christine Longley Creighton died Friday, Feb. 14, 2014, just shy of her 93rd birthday. She was born March 2, 1921, in Chattanooga to Edna Turner Longley and Lester Clifford Longley Sr. After graduating from Central High School, she studied business. In 1940 she married William Emmett Creighton, and they had 65 wonderful years of marriage prior to his death in 2005. Together they operated several successful businesses including Creightons Flowers in Rossville and Edgemere Motel and Periwinkle Gift Shop in Daytona Beach, Fla. Gladys described herself first and foremost a believer in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and all those who knew her saw His light shining through her. Gladys was also an avid gardener and china painter, and she loved her home. In addition to her parents and husband, Gladys was preceded in death by her siblings and their spouses, Frances (Rex) Johnson, Margaret (John) Stafford, and L.C. (Dorothy) Longley Jr., as well as her nephew John C. Johnson. She is survived by her nieces, Connie Hersch, of Boca Raton, Fla., and Lisa (Donald) Smythe, of Birmingham, Ala.; and by her nephew, Lester (Jeannie) Longley, of Atlanta, and by William Creightons niece, Pamelia Pursley, of Brookneal, Va.; and nephew, William Cutts, of Canton, Ga.; as well as many great-nieces and great-nephews, who loved her like a grandmother. She leaves a legacy of a great multitude of devoted neighbors, friends, and caregivers, all of whom will miss her dearly, but who rejoice in her joyful reunion with her Savior and with her relatives and friends who have preceded her. Although Gladys loved flowers, those who prefer may make a gift in her memory to Samaritans Purse (http://www.samaritanspurse.org/) or to a charity of their choice. Interment was at Florida National Military Cemetery, Bushnell, Fla. Her Memorial Service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, March 1, 2014, at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Deland, Fla. Arrangements through Lankford Funeral Home, Deland.