Amos M Valentine, Jr.

With deep sadness we announce the passing of beloved husband, father, son, and brother, Amos M. Valentine, Jr. (known to his family as “Butch”) of St. Petersburg, Florida, on February 18, 2021. Born and raised in Lakeland, Florida, he graduated from Lakeland Senior High School in 1975; completed a B.S. in accounting at University of South Florida in 1992; and received a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Care and Counseling from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1999. Amos loved God and his family. He had a true servant’s heart and spread joy wherever he went. He made sure that all with whom he interacted (family, friends, the children he taught and the youth he mentored at church, his Pre-K students in Louisville, the brain-injured adults with whom he worked in Louisville, and the senior adults he served in both Louisville and St. Petersburg) knew that God loved them and that they were “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139). Amos was preceded in death by, among others, his twin brother, Mike, maternal grandparents, Almon and Beulah Godfrey, and paternal grandparents, Amos and Willa Valentine. He is survived by his wife, Laurie, son and daughter-in-law, Andrew and Sarah, parents, Amos and Jannette Valentine, sisters, Susan Grandone (Mike) and Janiece Halverson, two nieces, and two nephews. A celebration of Amos’ life will be held on March 13, 2021 at 1:00 pm at the Gizella Kopsick Palm Arboretum, 605 11th Avenue NE, St. Petersburg, Florida; followed at 3:30 pm by a graveside service at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lakeland, Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Beth-El Farmworker Ministry, Inc., 18240 US Hwy 301 South, Wimauma, Florida 33598-4307;