Pansy Brenda Bolden

Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 10th at 11:00 a.m. at the New Smyrna Full Gospel Church, 5015 N. 17th Street, Tampa, FL. The Pastor, Bishop W.L. Lee, will officiate. Interment will be held Monday, August 12th in the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL. Visitation will be held Friday 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. at the Wilson Funeral Home, 3000 N. 29th Street, Tampa, FL.

“To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

A Time To Be Born

Pansy, affectionately known as “Mama Pansy”, began life on March 15, 1918 in Shady Grove, Florida near Ocala. She was the 12th of 13 children born to Simuel and Adline Williams-Hagins.

A Time To Learn

Pansy began her education in Marion County and finished high school in Leesburg. Afterwards she attended cosmetology school in Tampa.

A Time To Work

Pansy returned to Leesburg after graduating from cosmetology school and for over 25 years she independently operated her own beauty salon.

A Time To Love

Pansy met and fell in love with Lawrence Bolden in 1934. They were united in holy matrimony on June 8, 1936 and remained married for 67 years until Lawrence’s demise in 2004. Pansy and Lawrence parented one child, Debra Ann.

A Time To Be Happy

Pansy was well-known and very respected in the Leesburg community. She found great pleasure in feeding everyone in the neighborhood. The word ‘no’ was not acceptable to her when she offered you something to eat. Pansy also loved singing and showing off her ‘alto’ voice in the choir at Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church in Leesburg where she was a faithful member until she moved to Tampa to live with her daughter. She served as the church’s Financial Secretary for over 25 years. Her other affiliations included Women’s Auxiliary President for American Legion Post #179, Leesburg Community Chorus member, Church Women United Baptist Association member, Bethel Baptist Association Finance Committee member. Pansy served the community in any capacity that she was needed in. Her other fondest past-times included fishing with her husband Lawrence while they ate fresh roasted peanuts, talking on the phone (if she knew your number, you could be guaranteed a call from her at least once a week); but her greatest past-time was watching westerns. When you entered her house, you would think the cowboys and Indians were actually in the room.

Pansy always maintained a calm composure and strong faith during the good and not-so-good times of her life. She would often say: “God is able and His grace and His mercy will carry me through.”