Jimmie Mack Lane's Obituary
Jimmie Mack Lane, age 61, joined his Creator on February 5th, 2019 after an arduous battle with cancer. Jimmie was born on December 13, 1957 in Starke, Florida to Mack Lane and Hattie Mae Easley. Jimmie is survived by his wife, Linda; 2 daughters, Andrea (Manuel) and Shamara; 4 grandchildren, Noah, Naomi, Levi and Elijah. He is survived by his siblings, Shirley, Eva, Henry, Elaine, Aaron, Jackie, Sandra, Eric, Walter, Donnie and Kent. He is also survived by 3 aunties, an uncle and many nieces and nephews.
Jimmie spent the first 18 years of his life in Starke where he went to Elementary and High School. He went to Bradford High School where he was a football star. He played Running Back where he earned the nickname, “Night Train Lane” and was also a member of the Track and Field team.
After High School Graduation, he left to join the US Army. His early life in the military was spent on various assignments in Louisiana, Kentucky and New Jersey, among others. His longest deployment was in Germany where he held the position of Nuclear, Biological & Chemical Non-Commissioned Officer. His broad knowledge and dedication contributed substantially to the maintenance of an effective combat readiness posture to deter armed aggression.
His overall service in the United States Army epitomized exemplary performance of distinguished service to the United States of America and reflected admirably upon himself and his battalion.
A long and distinguished military service spanned a period of 15 years.
Jimmie was honorably discharged from the US Army as a Staff Sergeant after which he took on various federal and state jobs in the USDA, US Postal Service, Dept. of Revenue and the Alachua County School Board.
Jimmie had a daughter, Andrea, from his first marriage. He married the love of his life, Linda, whom he met in Germany. Together, they were blessed with a daughter, Shamara.
Jimmie went back to university in the 90’s to obtain his diploma. On April 30th, 1998, Jimmie graduated from The Nova Southeastern University where he obtained his degree in Bachelor of Science in Professional Management.
He entered the entrepreneurial phase of his life after his government jobs by acquiring and running a couple of businesses.
Jimmie embraced life and lived it to the fullest. He had a larger than life personality. He will always be remembered for his good and kind heart who always made time for all his friends and family. There was never a moment when he was too busy or too preoccupied or too ill to lend an ear to any of his many friends and family. In life, it’s not really about the wealth, power or intellect but the legacy left behind to those people Jimmie has touched that will forever be ingrained in their memory.
Jimmie’s love of cars started at a very young age. He got his first car at age 16 which was affectionately called the “pink panther”. From an Oldsmobile Cutlass to a Chevy Camaro Z28, a Pontiac TransAm, various Mercedes Benzes and Lincolns, he loved them all! He worked tirelessly to restore his late Mom’s Grand National which he proudly took to car shows and won him numerous awards. His enthusiasm for any cars fast and powerful soon led him to his first Corvette – a 330 hp ’96 C4. After only a few years, Jimmie traded in his C4 to a 650 hp 2016 Corvette Z06, his pride and joy. Even during the latter months of his illness, when he would be in so much pain, the sight of his Z06 always brought a smile to his face. He would go out to his garage and just sit there looking and admiring his sportscar.
Throughout his life in the military, in the midst of his various jobs and businesses, one thing that was always constant in Jimmie’s life was his love for God, The Almighty and his mission to spread the Good Word. Jimmie and Linda regularly held bible studies in the neighborhoods where they lived. Jimmie was also Deacon at The First Assembly of God which later on became The Greenhouse Church.
Jimmie’s passing leaves a huge hole in our hearts and he will be sorely missed by all but mostly by his soulmate, Linda and his entire family and large circle of friends who have all benefitted from his love, wisdom, advice and support all these many years.
Visitation and viewing will be held at The Williams-Thomas Funeral Home, West Area, 823 NW 143rd St., CR 241 on Friday, February 22nd, 2019 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.
Funeral Services with full military honors will be held on Saturday, February 23rd, 2019, 11:00 am at The Greenhouse Church, 11200 NW 39th Ave. with Pastor Robbie Johnson officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Greenhouse Church for the many causes which Jimmie was passionate about such as Feed The Children, Life For The Innocent (mission to identify and intervene for children trafficked for sex, labor, or organ harvesting), Convoy of Hope. Here is the link to The Greenhouse Church for online donation: https://greenhousechurch.org/give/
Please visit Jimmie’s memorial page at www.williamsthomasfuneralhome.com
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