Lauren Frederick Higginbotham III

Monday, July 6, 2020, at 3:26pm, Lauren Frederick Higginbotham III, beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend, passed into eternal life with his family by his side. Lauren was 58 years old. Lauren battled the injuries received in an accidental fire for four months. He was successful in overcoming the many burns, grafts, and surgeries, but in the end the damage to his lungs was too significant to enable Lauren to return to his home and family. With great faith, love, and compassion for his family, Lauren ended the battle on his own terms. Born in Jacksonville, FL March 19, 1962 to Lauren Higginbotham, Jr. and Peggy (Higginbotham) Todd, Lauren was raised by father Lauren and step-mother Joyce Higginbotham, and Peggy Todd and step-father Edgar Todd, in both Marathon Key and Jacksonville, Florida. Lauren married his childhood sweetheart Brenda Ditlovson, November 22, 1986, and they raised two children, Brandi Marie and Brandon John (Hannah Dancy). Lauren was passionate about all things mechanical and motorized, including cars, motorcycles, and boats, and worked at Lamb’s Yacht Center, NAPA Auto Parts, Road Ranger, and Adamec’s Harley Davidson before retirement. Working with his father, his son Brandon, and many friends on a variety of vehicles and projects were highlights of Lauren’s life. Lauren was a pet lover, and is dearly missed by his last dog Duke, as well as his grand-dogs. Waiting for Lauren across the Rainbow Bridge will be a large pack of other devoted and well-loved pets. Lauren is survived by his wife Brenda, children Brandi and Brandon, Peggy and Edgar Todd, Joyce Higginbotham, step-sister Carolyn Jean Nelson (Peter), step-brother Frank Alan Stiles (Liddy), step-sisters Elizabeth Guerrin, Brenda Daniels, uncles Stephen Higginbotham, Tommy Seaward (Kay), Donny Seaward (Cheryl) , along with sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous beloved friends. Lauren is preceded in death by his father, Lauren Higginbotham Jr, parents-in-law Dit and Elaine Ditlovson, and grandparents, aunts and uncles. Special thanks from the family to the doctors, nurses, and professional staff at UF Health Shands Hospital Burn Unit in Gainesville, Florida for their expertise, skill, and loving care.

Funeral arrangements are being made by Cedar Bay Funeral Home, 405 New Berlin Rd, Jacksonville FL

32218, www.cedarbayfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations to UF Health Shands Hospital Burn Unit in Gainesville, Florida

https://www.uff.ufl.edu/giving-opportunities/000865-burn-unit-fund/ or the Jacksonville Humane

Society https://www.jaxhumane.org/ are appreciated.

A Memorial Service will be held at Dunn’s Creek Baptist Church on July 18, 2020. Visitation for friends and family begins at 10:00 a.m. and the service will begin at 11:00 a.m. After the service, interment will be at the Ferreira Cemetery on Starratt Rd, which is only a few miles from the church. The family will have the reception at their home afterwards, which is only a mile from the cemetery. 

Dunn’s Creek Baptist Church

Dunnscreek.com

1425 Starratt Rd

Jacksonville, FL  32218

***MASK REQUIRED, WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING***

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