Kathryn Belle Long

Kathryn Belle Long, age 42, entered into rest surrounded by her family and friends on May 23, 2023 after a six month battle with brain cancer. Kathryn was a lifelong resident of Tallahassee. She was a graduate of North Florida Christian School and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City where she studied dance, music and performance theater. She also received her bachelor's degree from New School University in New York City. After graduation, Kathryn pursued her love of acting at Walt Disney World as a character actress and was the face of The Narnia Experience where she played the White Witch and even portrayed her in events like the Philadelphia Christmas Parade. She was also a feature performer as characters such as Meg from Hercules, Queen Grimhilde from Snow White and her favorite character of all to portray, Pluto! After her acting career at Disney, Kathryn returned to Tallahassee to pick up her music career and begin her career as an educator. Her first teaching job in Tallahassee was at a local Montessori school where she penned the lyrics to one of her best loved songs, “All Come In”. She began her professional teaching career at Swift Creek Middle School and worked there for 10 years as a dance, theater and musical theater instructor. She loved inspiring her students and watching them grow in their love and appreciation for music, dance and theater. A masterful musician and songwriter, Kathryn was instrumental in the formation of two of Tallahassee’s most beloved folk bands, Belle and the Band and The Adventures of Anabelle Lyn. Her musical creations went on to win her and her bandmates acclaim with her theme song for the WFSU television show Local Routes, which won an Emmy Award in 2016. She also received acclaim for her song “Tallahassee” which was the winner of the 2018 Will McLean Best New Florida Song contest. She recorded four albums with Log Cabin Studios, two with Belle and The Band and two with The Adventures of Annabelle Lyn. Her musical legacy is carried on in Tallahassee by beloved bandmates Mickey Abraham (Belle and The Band) and Elizabeth Fravel (The Adventures of Anabelle Lyn). Kathryn was the granddaughter of the late Buddy and Tootsie Brandt and the daughter of the late Mary Kathryn Long. Survivors include her father Billy Scott Long; two brothers Billy Long and Buddy “Scott” Long; nephews William Long, Clayton Long, and Christian Long; Aunts Barbara Brandt Perkins and Martha Brandt Parker as well as many beloved cousins. The family will receive friends from 6pm to 8pm at Bevis Funeral Home on Friday June 2nd. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Immanuel Baptist Church in Tallahassee at 10am on Saturday June 3rd. Burial service will follow at Oakland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Kathryn Belle Long Memorial Scholarship through the Leon County Schools Foundation may be made at http://weblink.donorperfect.com/kathrynlongscholarship or by mail where checks will also be accepted at: Kathryn Belle Long Memorial Scholarship Foundation for Leon County Schools 2757 W. Pensacola Street Tallahassee, FL 32304. Susie Mozolic of Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements. (www.bevis fh.com 850-385-2193)

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Kathryn Belle Long

June 17, 1980 - May 23, 2023