Frances "Fran" Hewett Dedmon

Frances “Fran” Hewett Dedmon passed away on December 10, 2023.    

Fran was born January 6, 1948 in Waycross, Georgia. Her parents were Clinton B. Hewett and Bettie J. Hewett, both from Waycross, but resided in Jacksonville from 1972 until retirement in 1984.  

Fran graduated in 1966 from Lakeland Senior High School in Lakeland, Florida and attended Florida Community College of Jacksonville (now known as Florida State College of Jacksonville) and St. Johns River Community College of Orange Park (now known as St. Johns River State College).   

Most of Fran’s career was in the travel industry holding positions with Piedmont Airlines & US Air and retired with Avondale Travel/Orange Park Travel in July 2014.  

She was happily married to Derry Dedmon from August 8, 2004, until her passing. They enjoyed many outdoor activities together like running & softball events and loved to travel & explore. Some of their favorite travel sites were New Zealand, Hawaii, Maine, Vermont, & Bermuda.   

Fran was a member of Advent Lutheran Church in Orange Park, Florida. She was a member of the Florida Striders Track Club in Orange Park. “Oh my, how she liked to run.” As an avid runner, she successfully completed over five marathons, numerous Jacksonville River Runs, and other races. She was most proud of her Disney Marathon. She also enjoyed gardening, growing her own vegetables, biking, kayaking, and she loved her fur-babies, miniature dachshunds named Roch & Porcha.   

Fran will be remembered for her passion in helping her clients with travel plans and always cheering for the underdog.  

She is preceded in death by her mother Bettie J. Hewett, her father Clinton B. Hewett, her sister Marla B. Allen, and her brother Joel C. Hewett. Fran is survived by her husband Derry W. Dedmon, her daughter Kimberly L. (Donnie) Copeland of Livingston, TN, her sister Bettilyn Lunetta (Paul) of Ponte Vedra, FL, her brother Paul W. Hewett (Anita) of Myrtle Beach, SC, her “bonus” children Marla Monaghan (Ian) of Fernandina, FL, Reyme Warren (Kyle) of Houston, TX & Bradford Dedmon (Morgan) of Jacksonville, FL, 2 grandsons Joseph Dees & Riley Copeland, 5 “bonus” grandchildren Liam & Charlie Monaghan, Makenzie & Austin Warren & Hudson Dedmon, and many nieces & nephews.    

A memorial service will be held at Advent Lutheran Church of Orange Park on January 12, 2024 at 11:00am. Interment will follow at Jacksonville National Cemetery at 2:30pm.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, which can be mailed to 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257 or done online through this link.