Cynthia "Cindy" Leverette Paulson's Obituary
Cynthia “Cindy” Leverette Paulson, 72, of Gainesville, Florida, peacefully went home to be with the Lord in the presence of her loving family on Friday, January 21, 2022. Born to Irene and Glenn Leverette on September 17, 1949, in Avon Park, Florida, the family later moved to Miramar, Florida, where she graduated from McArthur High School in 1967. In the summer of 1966, going into her senior year of high school, she met the love of her life Gunnar Paulson, with whom she was joyfully married to for just shy of 55 years.
After moving to Gainesville with her husband, a football player at the University of Florida, she became his biggest fan, along with their daughter, Amy, who they welcomed into the world that same year. Later, in 1973, their younger daughter Melissa was born. As a coach’s wife at Buchholz High School, along with being a Sunday school teacher and a girl scout troop leader, she discovered her passion for educating and mentoring young people, which lead her to work towards becoming an educator. She then graduated from the University of Florida in 1986 with a bachelor’s degree in education after impressively juggling her responsibilities as a mother and wife and her education. This began her 21-year career as an educator of both gifted and regular curriculums in Alachua County at Mebane Middle School and High Springs Community School. During the near decade that she spent at High Springs, she achieved one of her most proud accomplishments: consistently producing the top middle school reading scores in North Central Florida. After spending a couple of years in her dream position, as a district reading coach, where she mentored teachers at struggling schools, she retired to care for her mother in 2008. In 2013, she was diagnosed with stage 3 Melanoma, which she fought courageously and defeated in 2015 after being declared cancer free, thanks to being a part of a clinical trial with UF Health that pioneered a revolutionary cure.
She was a member of Northwest Baptist Church in Gainesville. She had a love of reading, history, music, playing guitar, and piano, singing, adventure, Downton Abbey, shopping, and her beloved dogs.
Above all, she cherished her family and was happiest when everyone was together for holidays and summers in St. Augustine Beach. Dining at the Columbia restaurant, strolling down St. George Street, and watching the fireworks every Fourth of July from the fort lawn with her entire family are some of her most treasured memories.
She will be deeply missed by her husband Gunnar Paulson of Gainesville, FL, daughters Amy Bennett (Bobby) of Arcadia, FL, Melissa Dougherty (Jonathan) of Gainesville, FL, grandchildren Taylor Bennett of Cumming, GA, Brittany Bennett of Bradenton, FL, Brooke Bennett of Arcadia, FL, Abby Bennett of Arcadia, FL, Gunnar Dougherty of Gainesville, FL, Grant Dougherty of Gainesville, FL, brother Donald Leverette (Clare) of Southwest Ranches, FL, and brother-in-law Carl Paulson of Gainesville, FL.
She will be remembered as a jovial spirit with an old soul. If you knew Cindy, you would know that she was the life of any party with an infectious laugh and a smile that would light up a room. If you were lucky enough to know her even better, you would know how gentle and incredibly wise she is. She will continue to inspire those close to her by sharing this wisdom, her interests, and her faith in God.
We would like to offer our gratitude to Community Hospice and the UF Health Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases.
A celebration of Cindy’s life will be held at Northwest Baptist Church, 5514 NW 23rd Ave, Gainesville, FL, 32606, on Saturday, January 29, 2022, at 11 o’clock, with a visitation at 10 o’clock.
Arrangements are being made by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in memory of Cindy to the LBDA-Lewy Body Dementia Association or an animal shelter/rescue of your choice.
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