Florence Rabun Chapman: Obituary

Mrs. Florence Rabun Chapman, age 98, of Jasper passed away Wednesday evening January 12, 2011.Mrs. Chapman was born in Jefferson County, Georgia, the youngest of ten children of Joe Sam Linson Rabun and Mary Hobbs Rabun.

She was educated at Louisville Academy and at a Business School in Augusta.
She worked at a Mercantile Business in Augusta, New York City, and Gaffney, S.C.

In 1932, while in Gaffney, she met and married J.G. Chapman who was a funeral director.

In 1936, they moved to Jasper, Georgia to work in funeral service and in 1951 they, along with their son Charles Chapman, co-founded Chapman Funeral Home.

J.G. Chapman was coroner of Pickens County from 1944 until his death in 1986. Mrs. Chapman succeeded him as coroner and served 11 years before retiring. She was presumed to be the oldest licensed funeral director in Georgia at the time of her death.

She was a member of First Baptist Church of Jasper, where she served as secretary of the Fidelis Sunday School Class for a number of years.

She was founding secretary of Pickens County AARP and an honorary member of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Family.

Survivors include a son Charles L. Chapman, his wife Peggie, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son Oscar R. Chapman.

The family will be receiving friends from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday and Saturday at Roper Funeral Home.

Funeral Services are scheduled for 3:00 PM Sunday from the First Baptist Church of Jasper with the Dr. Jimmy Lewis officiating. Burial will be in Jasper Cemetery.

Roper Funeral Home, formerly Chapman Funeral Home, is charge of arrangements.