Obituary of Melanie Hosford

On November 14, 2013, Melanie Dulaney Hosford went home to be with the Lord. Melanie was born on January 19, 1951 in Lakeland, FL to Harley Kimer Dulaney, Jr. and Joanne Simpson Dulaney. Melanie graduated from Riverdale High School in Jefferson, LA and attended Mississippi College and the University of New Orleans. She lived for many years in southern New Jersey; it was the place where she felt most comfortable and where she always longed to return to open a small country store in the downstairs of her Victorian home in Mullica Hill. She spent over 40 years as a professional in the insurance industry. For the past 17 years she was the President of Specialty Insurance Services, Inc. in Jacksonville, FL. Melanie was passionate about her country and spent several years as a committee women on the Republican Executive Committee of Duval County. She was a kind, gentle and giving person. She was an avid reader and loved decorating, gardening, antiquing and spending time at her lake house. Her greatest loves were her children and her grandson whom she was endlessly and selflessly devoted to. Melanie is survived by her children: Alison Hill Strother and Blair Hosford, Son-In-Law: Tim Strother, Grandson: Pierce Strother, Future Daughter-In-Law: Jennifer Hartwich, Brother: Harley Kimer Dulaney, III, Sister-In-Law: Lynne Morris Dulaney, Sister: Meredith Dulaney Johnson (Henry Nathan Johnson) and a number of nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or the Mayo Clinic of Jacksonville Neuro-Oncology department (www.mayoclinic.org/jacksonville/). A celebration of life service will be held on November 18, 2013 at Ft. Caroline Baptist Church, 11428 McCormick Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32225 at 11:00 am. The family will be accepting visitors from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.