Judge Rufus Olney Jefferson

Judge Rufus Olney Jefferson passed away peacefully at his home in Tallahassee Wednesday, June 22, 2016, surrounded by his family. He was 90 years of age. The family will receive friends Sunday, June 26, 2016 from 1:00 PM until service time at 2:00 PM in the Narthex of Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church in Tallahassee. Burial, with military honors will follow at Roselawn Cemetery. Gifts in memory of Judge Jefferson may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308. Born September 3, 1925 in Tampa, he was a graduate of Hillsborough High School, Class of 1943. Following his service in the United States Navy during World War II, he graduated from Florida State University in 1949 and from the University of Florida School of Law in 1952. He has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1952. Mr. Jefferson served as an Assistant Attorney General for Florida from 1952 to 1955 and as a legal assistant to the Governor from 1955-1957. He served as Leon County Juvenile Judge for 16 years and was the author of “Florida Juvenile Law 1972”. He was a member of the Juvenile Judges Association (past President), the Florida Council of Crime and Delinquency (past State President) and past Chairman and member of the Florida Bar Rules Committee on Juvenile Rules of Court. He was a longtime member of Civitan and the Tallahassee Bar Association, as well as serving for more than 50 years as a Board Member of the Apalachee Community Mental Health Services. He was also a charter member of Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, where he served as a Sunday School teacher for more than 20 years. Mr. Jefferson was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Barbara “Becki” Jefferson; his parents, Rufus W. and Laurel M. Jefferson; and his brother, Cyrus M. Jefferson. Survivors include five daughters, Daryl J. Wagner (Deryl) of Brandon, FL and Caryl A. Jefferson, Susan L. Jefferson, Laurel J. Rauschenberg (Jeff) and Barbara R. “Barbie” Jefferson, all of Tallahassee; six grandchildren, Jennifer W. Pope (Scott), Arminda G. Williams (Jason), David J. Wagner, Robyn M. Walters, Matthew D. Wagner (Kalee) and Wendy L. Walters; and five great-grandchildren, Cody Ward, Haidyn Ward, Jaisley Williams, Roma Pope and Ashton Wagner. Also surviving is his sister, Margie Cook of Houston, TX. Rocky Bevis of Bevis Funeral Home (850/385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the Jefferson family with their arrangements.

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Judge Rufus Olney Jefferson

September 3, 1925 - June 22, 2016