John Frank Townsend Obituary in Fort Pierce at Stone Bros. Funeral Home and Chapel

Obituary For John Frank Townsend

John Frank Townsend was born June 30, 1939 in Bartow (Polk County), Florida to the late Johnnie Cecil Townsend and Mattie Mae Healey Townsend.

John attended Union Academy Bartow (K-12), where he played football and graduated with the Class of 1958. UA was affectionately known as The Home of Champions, where the Tiger lived into the next millennium.

He was joined in Holy Matrimony to Queen Esther Souter in Miami-Dade County, Florida on May 29, 1962, where they lived until moving to Ft. Pierce, FL in 1963. To that union was born Antella Nerel Townsend.

John Townsend was a member of The Church of the Kingdom of God, Bartow, FL, where he accepted Christ at a young age under Prince Jacob Jones. His membership remained there until relocating to Fort Pierce, where he joined the Greater Mount Pleasant Primitive Baptist Church under the late Elder S.P. Kilpatrick and upon his retirement, John remained an active and faithful member under Elder Charles L. Hendley. Brother Townsend was a member of the Church School, Male Chorus, served on the Trustee Board and served as Chairman of Men’s Day several times. He also supported the Kitchen Ministry whenever the Brotherhood was in charge.

Upon graduation from Union Academy, Bartow and after a short stint working in the Coal Mines, John enrolled at Florida Normal and Industrial College of St. Augustine, FL. The name was eventually changed to Florida Memorial College where he graduated in 1963 with a Bachelors of Elementary Education. John Townsend began teaching for the St. Lucie County School System with his first appointment at Chester A. Moore Elementary School as a 5th grade teacher, then moving on to Dan McCarty Middle School as Dean of Students. John continued his education and earned a Masters in Administration and Supervision in 1974 from Florida Atlantic University of Boca Raton, Fl. Upon his completion he was assigned to Lincoln Park Middle School as Assistant Principal and finally appointed as the Inaugural Principal of Northport Middle School of Port St. Lucie, FL until retirement in 2000. His appointment as Principal afforded he and wife Queen S. Townsend the honor to be named the first husband and wife team to serve as Principals in St. Lucie County School.

John Townsend also worked for St. Lucie County Parks and Recreation as Director of the Lincoln Park Recreation Center where he touched countless young men and women. He also served as a Tutor for the Minute Maid Migrant Program for Adult Literacy, with a passion to help undereducated men to better themselves through education.

Mr. Townsend was initiated through the Kappa Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., at Florida Memorial College in 1960 and became affiliated with the Omicron Tau Chapter, Ft. Pierce and is a Life Member with more than 55 years of service. He was also a member of the Masons, Par 5 Golf Association and the Gold Coast Riders Motorcycle Club. For a short period upon retirement from his professional career, John bought a Tractor Trailer and drove long distance.

He leaves to rejoice in his home going those who will forever treasure his memory as follows: a loving and devoted wife Queen of Port St. Lucie, FL; daughter Antella Townsend, Miami, FL; son Jonathan Robinson, Bartow, FL; (3) grandsons Vernon (Melissa) Jones, Tampa, FL, Andre Jones, Tallahassee, FL, Jonathan Robinson, Jr., Haines City, FL;(1) great-grandson, Landon Blake Jones; sisters-in-law, Idell (Levi) Souter-Robinson, Miami, FL, Shirley Jones Townsend of Atlanta, GA; brother-in-law John D. Souter, St. Petersburg, FL; uncle, Joseph Jackson, Silver Springs, MD; aunt Carlene Healey, Inkster, MI; niece, Sherrie Townsend-Golden, Washington, DC, nephew RodneyTownsend, Atlanta, GA; a host of cousins including Pastor Henry (Connie) Healey; goddaughter, Betty Marshall, godson Aaron J. Mullins; special Caregivers Jackie (Sarah) Robinson, William Hill; and sorrowing friends, neighbors and church family.

Public visitaion for Mr. John Townsend will take place on Friday, March 29, 2019 from 4:00pm-7:00pm at Stone Brothers Funeral Home in Fort Pierce, FL. Funeral services will convene on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 1:00pm at Greater Mount Pleasant Primitive Baptist Church in Fort Pierce, FL. Burial will follow in Riverview Memorial Park in Fort Pierce, FL.

Photos & Video

Condolences & Tributes

Add A Condolence

My condolences are with Antella and Mrs. Townsend and the entire family. ❤️

My thoughts and prayers are with the Townsend family. Weeping may endure for a night, but you comes in the morning. Draw close to God that He may draw close to you.

Mrs. Townsend my deepest condolences. You are in my thoughts and prayers. May God comfort and ease your pain. Mr. Townsend’s legacy and mark on St. Lucie County will live on through the many lives he touched in our school system and community.

To the Family of John F. Townsend for you were one of a kind. You were my children principal at North Port Middle School, and you would see me on that big yellow bus driving, and you would say" can you actually drive that big All American bus and I say yes sir" for I am here and you would laugh. But overall you were a unique person that have touch so many lives in this county over the years in which you are going to be missed by Mrs. Townsend and the others. But Bro Townsend you have done your work and fought a good fight, so now it is time for you to take your wings and soar. We all will missed you with that lovely smile and your favorite jokes. For you are truly a friend, mentor and especially a marvelous teacher as well as a principal to all the young men's women's of this county that they will never forget. Sleep on Mr. Townsend take your rest my friend.
Catherine Ealy- Simon

Mr. Townsend was my fifth grade teacher and he was excellent. He was my first male teacher and he set the bar for my future teachers. His caring spirit was further demonstrated by words of encouragement. He made learning interesting. It is my hope that Mrs. Townsend, children and friends will have fond memories which are endless and grief that will be short! DJ O'Neal Ferguson

To the Family of my longtime friend: Sorry we cannot be there by your side, but you are in our thoughts and prayers. May God heal you, may His arms reach you when mine cannot, and may you feel our sincere love. May His peace comfort you Sincere sympathy. Clifford & Margie Sirmons 1000 Red Store Rd Whiteville NC 28472 910-640-1026

John.... may you be blessed & may your family be comforted knowing that God is watching over you. We started working together at C A Moore.... I began there in 1971 & it would be years later we would be working together again. You hired me at LPA as the media specialist & from there we opened Northport. They were some of my best teaching years & I thank you for making them pleasant. We shared many good years working hard to educate all the students with laughter along the way. I'm sorry to hear of your passing & sending you & your family my thoughts & prayers. Rest well, John & many blessings. Peggy Lebair

To the Family,
I will always remember Mr. Townsend. He was my 5th grade teacher at C.A. Moore. P. Davis

To Mrs. Townsend & Antella, You are in our thoughts and prayer. I pray that God will give your family comfort and strength during this most difficult time. God Bless. Jackie & Sarah Lee-Robinson

My prayers and thoughts are with you doing this difficult time. Remember earth has no sorrows that heaven can not heal. I will continue to keep you in my prayers. Mrs. Emily Broxton

To the Townsend Family: Ms. Queen, you and Mr. John were such good friends of my mom (Verner). I offer my condolences and pray that you gain comfort and peace knowing that God's grace and mercy will sustain you in your time of bereavement. Brenda Gilchrist Brown

Sorry for lost, may GOD bless y'all....... Spencer Kilpatrick

Sincere condolences expressed to the family and friends in the passing of your loved. God has promised taht we will see our lived ones again. May that give you comfort and hope. John 5:28,29; Rev 21:3,4

deepest sympathy in your loss. He was an amazing human being please shed no tears he finished his course and a job well done hope we can follow the example he left behind love you Mr.Townsend he was my teacher at C.A.Moore he set the bar high for education at C.A.Moore with that i stayed on track i became a Nurse,I'VE travel as a nurse as well. Give thanks for having him for so long he was a great person truly. ABBEY BROWN FPCHS CLASS OF 1978.