Marion Ann Rhea Caldwell, age 98, passed away on November 1, 2025, in Clermont, Florida. She was our wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She dedicated her life to her family, her church, and to the public school children of Florida.

Our mom was born on August 26, 1927, to James Irvin Rhea and Willie Lee Woodward Rhea in Fort Pierce, Florida. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Stetson University; and later, while her children were in school, she received her Master of Arts degree in Education from Rollins College.

Mom started her teaching career at Groveland Elementary School, then after marrying Roy Wright Caldwell in 1950, she taught at the University of Florida's prestigious P. K. Yonge Laboratory School while our dad worked on his law degree. After dad graduated from UF law, they moved to Jacksonville where he was a law clerk and she was a teacher. They returned to Lake County after the clerkship and mom taught school at Tavares Elementary until 1959, when they made their final move to Clermont. They made their home here for 66 years. After teaching elementary school for many years, she became one of the first Primary Specialists for Lake County Schools and retired after 43 years of service in 1990.

Mom and dad sang in the choir at Grace Baptist, which became the First Baptist Church of Clermont, until their later years. Clermont used to be a small town where everyone knew everyone and mom was frequently asked to sing solos on Sunday mornings and at weddings and funerals.

Mom loved her family more than anything in the world and hosted dinners for family and friends on a weekly basis. We grew up enjoying family pets, freedom to roam and family vacations at the beach. Mom and dad always planned fantastic Christmas and birthday parties for their children. She made sure her family was in church every Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday nights, too.

Mom never had a bad day. Never raised her voice in anger. She took on every bump in the road with kindness and humility. She enjoyed fellowship with her Sunday School classes, and her Delta Kappa Gamma and P.E.O. sisters.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her twin sisters, Virginia Lee Rhea and Zelda Catherine Rhea Dennis, her husband, Roy Wright Caldwell, and her son, Roy Wright Caldwell, Jr. (Sparky). She leaves behind her cherished legacy, her children, James David Caldwell (Mary Beth), Merry Catherine Penn (Philip Scott Penn), Irvin Rhea Caldwell (Deborah Melissa), and her daughter-in-law, Marla Renee Caldwell (Sparky). Her daughter and sons gave her their most precious gifts, her 10 grandchildren: Jenna Leigh (Brian) Burger, Casey (Julie) Caldwell, Kevin (Stephanie) Caldwell, Joe (Katie) Caldwell, Kristoffer (Courtney) Caldwell, Melissa Ann (Jared) Hester, Cassidy (Justin) Densmore, Brian Penn, Chloe (Julian) Mulkay, and David Penn as well her 17 "make-you-smile" great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the beautiful Christian women who cared for Mom and Dad in their final years: Marla Caldwell, Andrea Gardiner, Mervilyn Davis, Maureen Smith, and their primary caretaker, Merry Penn.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 2pm, at First Baptist Church of Clermont, 2751 Hartwood Marsh Rd, Clermont, FL 34711. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Clermont at 4pm.

Memorial Contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Clermont , 2751 Hartwood Marsh Rd, Clermont, FL 34711 or Grace Baptist Church , PO Box 120688, Clermont, FL 34712-0688