Jaime Franklin Eddleman

Jaime was originally named James Franklin because her Dad wanted a boy. After growing up in Itta Bena, Ms Jaime went to the University of Alabama and subsequently transferred to Louisiana State University for a degree in Physical Education. During her college years she was a state and regional swimming and diving champion, also excelling at water ballet in addition to learning to fly at the University of Alabama in the 1930s. She was a crop duster pilot for a summer job. Jaime was also a fencing champion. After college she attended the Red Cross Aquatic School in Brevard, NC and then taught at Opelika, AL after graduating. While at the University of Alabama she met Dwight Johnston on April 8, 1936 and they were subsequently married on July 2nd 1938 at the Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale and moved permanently to to Florida.

During World War II she coached both girls and boys swimming for Ft. Lauderdale High School, winning every meet and also establishing the high school girls champion Nauti Nymphs Synchronized swimming team. Also during the war she was a coastal protection pilot for the Civil Air Patrol. Her son, Skip, was quite often strapped into her lap. As a spotter for German subs off the coast she would radio their positions to the wartime shore batteries so they could open fire and drive them underwater thus preventing them from recharging their batteries.

In 1947 her husband, Dwight, was killed on his motorcycle. He was the first police officer killed in the line of duty in Ft. Lauderdale. This was a difficult time for the family. A book was written by Joe Williams called “Unearthed”about the death of Dwight. Jaime later owned several beauty shops including the Bellacia Tienda, Jo-La at the Bahia Mar and Vogue Beauty Salon on 402 E. Los Olas Blvd. She also taught many students at 3 south Florida beauty schools. In 1949 Jaime married Walter Glen Neuendorf, called Glen, from Cleveland Ohio and the family lived on 300 SW 12th Street in Ft. Lauderdale. He was a salesman at Firestone.

Jaime owned several Buick convertibles throughout her life. Later in life Jaime organized and swam with senior synchronized swimming groups well into her late eighties.

In 1959 Jaime married Melvin EDDLEMAN from Cullman, AL. Jaime had met Melvin March 8, 1936. Their first date was March 25, 1936. He was a friend of both Jaime and Dwight while they attended the University of Alabama in the 1930s and 40s.