Josephine Derryberry Hoffses

The Amazing Grace of Josephine HoffsesJosephine “Jo” Derryberry Hoffses lived life to the fullest before passing away on Thursday, September 26, 2024 at Lake Howard Heights in Winter Haven. A celebration of life will be held on November 16, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. officiated by Father Paul Head at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Hosted by her daughters, Josephine “Jody” Miller, Auburndale, and Margaret “Peggy” Kennedy, Winter Haven, a light lunch will be served.

Born November 17, 1929, in Murfreesboro, Tenn., she and her mother moved to her mother’s multi-generational family farm in Bell Buckle, Tenn., following the death of her father.

“Mother was proud of her lineage and knew she came from a very fine family,” explained her daughters. “She was surrounded by uncles, one aunt and was the eldest of many cousins.”

One of the grande dames of Winter Haven society, Jo treasured her family, education, Girl Scouts, serving as a leader, and her church, where she had been a member since 1954. She taught Sunday school, served on the alter guild for many years, was a member of the Daughters of King and most recently, spearheaded the restoration of the Garden of the Cross where the cremated remains of her late husband and many of their close friends are interred.

Willam “Will” Hoffses was the love of her life whom she met while registering for class at Florida Southern College. After marrying in 1949, they celebrated 55 years of wedded bliss.

“She would swoon when she talked about Will,” revealed close friend Sue Sprinkel. “They were a gorgeous couple. She held him in such high esteem that there could never be another man in her heart after he passed away 20 years ago. One hot summer day, I saw her pulling weeds from Will’s resting place and I thought the church should do that work. That is when she decided to form the committee to restore the garden.”

Sprinkel served on and later chaired the committee of seven. “We were all kindred spirits who shared mutual interests like gardening and art. Jo hand-picked us like putting together a master jigsaw puzzle. Her dream was to make the garden as beautiful as it was when her daughter Jody married David Miller in 1973.”

“Education was very important to Mother, who attended Webb School, a private day prep school in Bell Buckle, Tenn., Adventure boarding high school in Summerville, S.C., and Martin College in Pulaski, Tenn., before transferring to FSC in Lakeland where she met our dad.”

She earned a B.A. in Elementary Education in 1951 and a master’s of Education at Rollins College in Winter Park. For 30 years, she taught in Polk County Public Schools including: South Winter Haven, Inwood, Lake Shipp, Brigham and Lake Alfred Elementary.


“She was such a fantastic teacher that her students kept in touch with her throughout her life,” said Sprinkel. “Her insightful solutions to classroom discipline were uplifting and positive instead of punishing.”

When she and Will retired in the 1980s, they traveled extensively with their dear friends Billie and Ralph Kuenzli. The younger sister of Girl Scouting legend, Gundy Costello, Kuenzli taught with Jo for many years. They took adventures to Europe many times, including Ireland and Yugoslavia, toured South America and often visited N.Y., Maine and California, as well as returning to her roots in Tenn.

Fiercely independent and a fighter, she vowed to live to at least age 97 or 98, or, hopefully, follow in the footsteps of her long-lived family. However, her death was a month and a half before she would have celebrated her 95th birthday.

“What an indomitable lady,” described close family friend Connie Gilmore. “Born at the start of the Depression, she was forged with strength and courage through a very difficult time in her childhood. She came out the other side of it with an inner strength that lasted for her entire, long and very productive life. She was such a kind and loving person. Those are the greatest attributes that we mere mortals should hope to achieve. She did that wonderfully with great grace.”

“I loved her exuberant spirit,” added Sprinkel, who shared similar roots coming from Lake Alfred and Tenn. “She was full of life, so active and social. She so treasured the gift of 12 dinners at fine dining restaurants her daughters gave her for Christmas that she made a scrapbook to cherish the memories of her family’s gift.”

In addition to her daughters and son-in-law William David Miller, she is survived by three granddaughters who affectionately called her “Muzzy,” a name she borrowed from Kuenzli.

Mary Alice Kennedy (Winter Haven); Kathryn Ann Kennedy (Tampa); Patrica Kennedy Varnes, (Lyons, Georgia); James “Beau” Owen Varnes, grandson in-law; great grandchildren: Emma Grace Skipper and John Skipper (deceased); and James and Jaxson Varnes (Georgia). She also is survived by her sweet cat, Macy Gray. She is predeceased by her parents, Graham Craig Derryberry and Mary Alice Turrentine Derryberry.

Thanks to Compassionate Care Hospice of Lakeland, and the loving care of Premier Home Care Staffing providing round the clock sitters for a more peaceful transition.

Donations in her honor may be made to the following:

Mary Stephens Cattery Fund: SPCA Florida 5850 Brannen Road S Lakeland, FL 33813; and Garden of the Cross St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 656 Av L, NW Winter Haven, FL 33881.