Eudonis Garrard Sloan

Mrs. Eudonis Garrard Sloan, 87, of Sarasota, FL, formerly of Graceville, Florida went home to be with the Lord on June 14, 2016.

Eudonis came to Sarasota with her mother, father, and younger sister as a young girl. She was a graduate of Booker High School, and lived out her days as a resident of the Newtown community.

Known as “Donnie “ to her friends, the oldest daughter of David and Ella Mae Garrard was a pillar of the Greater Hurst Chapel AME Church and Sarasota’s first licensed African-American insurance salesperson, calling on Newtown residents door-to-door.

She was also the first African-American department supervisor in the history of Sears Department Store of Sarasota, and local residents may remember her waiting on them in the candy department or the children's clothing department in the '60's, '70's and 80's. Older residents may remember “Donnie “ selling them a ticket to a show at Overtown’s Ace Movie Theater in the ‘40’s and ‘50’s.

A widow preceded in death by her husband, Mack Sloan, her mother, Ella Mae Garrard Singleton; her father, David Garrard all of Newtown, and her sister, Ruby Garrard Woodson of Sarasota.

Eudonis is survived by a nephew, William Garrard Woodson (Frances); great-niece, Erica Woodson; great-nephew: Ajani Lewis-McGhee; adopted granddaughter, Angelique Ferdinand; stepson Calvin Sloan, and a host of other relatives.

Graveside services will be Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at 4 pm, at Hinson Cemetery in Graceville, FL under the directions of Christian Memorial Chapel of Graceville.

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