Mary Georgiana Jennings Rozier died on Jan. 5, 2011, at the age of 87 years old. She was born on Aug. 13, 1923, in Ft. Pierce, FL, to Ruth Dreher and Lester Windsor Jennings. Her family soon moved to Jacksonville, FL, where she spent her childhood and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School. After high school, Georgiana attended Florida State College for Women in Tallahassee, FL, and was a member of the Sigma Kappa Sorority. She went on to Emory University in Atlanta, GA, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. While attending Emory, Georgiana met and married Jacob Riley Rozier, a young medical student from Leesburg, FL. They were married on Mar. 16, 1946, in the Emory Chapel, Atlanta, Georgia, then moved to Winston Salem, NC. Georgiana worked as a public health nurse supporting Jake during his medical residency at Bowman Gray Hospital. Upon completion of his residency, the young couple moved to Leesburg to begin a medical practice, but the United States Army had a different plan sending Jake, Georgiana and their infant daughter to Japan to provide medical care for the Japanese victims of World War II. When they returned to the states, they spent two years in Atlanta while Jake trained as a resident specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Georgiana supported the family as a pediatric nursing supervisor at Grady Hospital. In 1952 Georgiana and Jake moved their growing family to Orange County, settling in Winter Park. While working part-time as a nurse in Jake's OBGYN practice, Georgiana found time to be an attentive mother to her three small children as well as getting involved in volunteer efforts around Winter Park. She was a charter member of the Junior Service League serving as its second president and was later instrumental in combining the service league with Orlando Junior League to become the Junior League of Orlando/Winter Park. Georgiana served as the league's Sustainers President for several years in the 1970's.
Mrs. Rozier served as a member and President of the Orange County Doctors' Wives Auxiliary, President of the Lakemont Elementary PTA, "Pink Lady" in the Winter Park Hospital Auxiliary, Junior Sorosis Club and the Winter Park Garden Club helping to decorate the park on Park Avenue at Christmas. For many years she was active in the First Baptist Church of Winter Park. Georgiana also enjoyed playing tennis, golf and bridge until recent years when her health declined.Georgiana was truly a role model for young women. She was a devoted wife and helpmate to Jake, loving mother to her three children and dedicated to community service. She was truly a fulfillment of the scripture found in Luke 12:48. "For of those to whom much is given, much is required." Georgiana is survived by her three children: Karen Verlander(Chris), Jacksonville, FL, Jake Rozier,Jr.(Laurie),Oviedo, FL, and Jim Rozier(Tammy), Atlanta, GA. She had eight grandchildren, Alan(Bonnie), Scotty(Stephanie), and Michael(Lauren) Verlander, Alison Strange, Charles Parker, JR Rozier III, Bryan Rozier and Tiffany Rozier, and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister Maggie(Jim) Scott of Matthews, NC.