Myra Hodge Ponder

Published 6:02 pm Monday, June 8, 2020

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Mrs. Myra Hodge Ponder, 77, went to be with her Lord and Savior Monday, May 25, 2020, at Red Hills Village, Tallahassee, Florida.

Myra was born in Brooklyn, New York. She was a graduate of Haines City High School, Haines City, Florida. She attended Florida State University where she obtained a B.S. degree in Mathematics and later earned an M.S. degree in Education from Nova University.

She was a devoted mother and a faithful member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Apalachicola, Florida. Her church life was full of activities such as organist, choir member, junior choir director, lector and member of the church vestry. Myra was a volunteer at Your Penny’s Worth, the church thrift store, and later served as the treasurer and as a manager.

During her 30-year career, Myra taught mathematics at all levels at Chapman High School and Apalachicola High School. She also served as an adjunct math instructor for Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida. After retiring in 1994 from the Franklin County School District, Myra served as a student-teacher advisor for Florida State University.

Myra was a member of the Florida Teachers Association and the Franklin County Teachers Association. She served as Senior class sponsor, year book sponsor, and as Mu Alpha Theta sponsor, a student math honor organization, all for several years. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an organization of women educators. During her many years with Delta Kappa Gamma, Myra served as president and treasurer of the local chapter. She also served as the treasurer of Mu State, the Florida state organization, and was editor of The Florida Rays newsletter. She served on various committees within these organizations. After retiring, Myra was also a member of the Florida Retired Educator’s Association and the Franklin-Gulf Retired Educators Association. She served as president and later the treasurer of the latter.

Myra was predeceased by her parents, Lloyd W. and Dorothy B. Hodge, of Haines City, Florida; her sister, Dorothy Joan Parker, of Decatur, Georgia; and granddaughter, Alexandria Johanna Manning, of Washington, North Carolina. Surviving members of her family include her husband of 54 years, Charles (C.T.) Ponder, of Red Hills Village; son, Charles (Chuck) Ponder Jr., and his wife, Lisa S. Ponder, of Quincy, Florida; daughter, Georgiana P. Manning and her husband, Paul Manning, of Washington, North Carolina; and her brothers, Lloyd W. Hodge Jr., of Tierra Verde, Florida, and Robert Hodge and wife Doris of Lake Placid, Florida. Other surviving family include her grandchildren Amanda and Elizabeth Manning of Washington, North Carolina, and Shannon and Russell Ponder of Quincy, Florida, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.

Service arrangements are to be announced. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Myra H. Ponder to either the Trinity Episcopal Church, 79 Fifth St., Apalachicola, Florida 32320, or the Florida Delta Kappa Gamma Scholarship Fund, c/o Beverly Stagg, 7407 Lillie Lane, Pensacola, Florida 32526.