William Larry Freeman, 79, of Gainesville, Fla., passed away suddenly on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, after a brief illness.
Freeman was born June 19, 1942 in the Appalachian mountains in Rome, Ga., to John Howell and Hazel Mae Baldwin Freeman. He traveled to Florida at just 15-years-old to start a new life for himself. He and his business partner, Elbert Cochran, started the Jiffy Food Stores in Gilchrist, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee and Taylor Counties and have continued to operate and serve surrounding communities for more than 50 years.
Freeman was a world traveler, traveling all seven continents including Antartica. Freeman was also an avid Gator fan, golfer and family man and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
Freeman was preceded in death by his father, mother and sister Sherry Bohannon, all from Rome, Ga. Freeman is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Charlene Freeman, of Gainesville; two sons, Shaun (Dee) Freeman and Steve (Candace) Freeman of Live Oak; three step-daughters: Jennifer (Brandon) Bass, of Ocala, Amanda Lee, of Glen Saint Mary, Fla. and Jessica (Nick) Lowe, of Tallahassee and one sister, Bobbie Cameron, of Texas; 12 grand-children, two great-grand children and a host of close nieces, nephews and family friends.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday, Oct. 16, that will begin at 10 a.m. and will be held at Daniels Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc., located at 126 Ohio Ave. N., in Live Oak.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to UF Shands Pediatric Hospital pediatric oncology or pediatric cardiology departments in Gainesville.