In Loving Memory of James "Jimmy" Black:

James "Jimmy" Black, age 53, of Lakeland, FL, passed away tragically in a car accident on the morning of October 29, 2024 while driving to work. Jimmy was kind, caring, compassionate, hardworking, eager to serve, and always put the needs of others above his own. Jimmy was born on May 26, 1971 in Franklin, Ohio to Naomi and Jerry Black Sr. For the last 17 years, Jimmy worked at the Polk County School Board as a locksmith. He loved his job and took school safety seriously. Jimmy was a proud husband, dad, son, grandpa, brother, uncle, and a caring friend to all. Jimmy loved Jesus, all animals, and was madly in love with his wife Glenda. He made you laugh often with his wittiness, dad jokes, pranks, and sense of humor. He taught us to never take life to seriously and to find the good in each day.  His warm personality, kindness, selflessness, and care for all has left a profound legacy on all who knew him. 

Jimmy is survived by a loving family who cherished him deeply: his wife, daughters (& son-in-laws), mother, mother-in-law, brother, sister, several grand children, nieces & nephews, aunts & uncles, and multiple work brothers at the school board M1 shop (& beyond). He was truly loved, valued, and respected by all who knew him. 

To honor and celebrate Jimmy Black's life, a memorial will be held on Saturday, December 14th at 10:00 a.m. at Grace City Church in Lakeland FL, with a reception to follow with light refreshments focused on desserts (Jimmy's favorite part of any meal).  Grace City Church is located at 1736 New Jersey Rd., Lakeland, FL 33803. Blue, green, or brighter colors are strongly encouraged. Feel free to come comfortable, casual, or in something that makes you feel good.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Roberts Center for Learning &  Literacy (Roberts Academy) or the Polk Education Foundation (PEF -Bartow, FL) in memory of Jimmy Black. These resources and links can be found below. The Roberts Academy directly supports students with dyslexia by providing specialized instruction and early intervention to address learning or literacy challenges. Jimmy often relied on the OrCam Technology (link below) to assist him with his own dyslexia and was passionate about helping individuals receive the support they need to reduce bullying, increase independence, and improve self-confidence. The Polk Education Foundation is a 501 (C) (3) that directly supports the Polk County School Board to ensure that students and teachers receive the resources and supplies to support educational programs throughout the county. 

Read More Here:

About Roberts Center for Learning & Literacy (Roberts Academy through Florida Southern College):

https://www.flsouthern.edu/ac…

Select "Roberts Academy" for the area of giving. 

Give: https://commerce.cashnet.com/cashneti/static/storefront/fscgiving/catalog/item-details/GIVING-GIFT

About Polk Education: Foundation: https://www.polkeducationfoundation.org/about_pef/what_is_pef

Give: https://www.polkeducationfoun…

OrCam Technology: https://www.orcam.com/en-us/home 

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