Carol Ann Sargeant

Carol Ann Grizzard Shull Sargeant (80) was born September 5, 1942, the first child of Robert Harold Grizzard and Mildred Olive Booth Grizzard. She passed away Monday, August 21, 2023, from an automobile accident.

Carol Ann was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida. In her youth, she was active in many clubs, including Campfire Girls and Bluebirds, and she modeled for Maas Brothers Department Store and at various charity events. She attended Lakeland Senior High School, where she was a majorette, a 1960 Calendar girl, and the school treasurer. She was also active in the Civinettes Service Club and the Music Masters Society. She earned a degree in Recreation from Florida State University, where she joined the Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, and even competed in the Miss Tallahassee pageant. After college, she briefly taught Physical Education before marrying her first husband, Dr. Harry Dean Shull, Jr. They moved to Milwaulkee, Wisconsin, where she had her first child, Harry Dean Shull III, and later moved to Winter Haven, Florida, where she had her second child, Mary Ann Shull. The Shulls were active at First Presbyterian Church, and Carol Ann was a leader in the Polk County Medical Auxillary. She married her second husband, C. Richard (Dick) Sargeant, in 1990, and they were active at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Winter Haven. Eventually they moved back to Lakeland, where they became active once again in their childhood church, First United Methodist.

She always had a love for science, winning science fairs as a youth. She taught science at Crystal Lake Junior High School, and had an avid interest in environmental causes. She primarily worked as a realtor at her parents’ company, H & M Realty, and was still actively working as a realtor, even to the day she died.

Carol Ann was known for her compassion, and gave generously of her time and money to a variety of organizations. She loved the arts, and was an integral part of Theatre Winter Haven, serving as president of the theatre guild. She was also on the board of the Lakeland Community Theatre. She was an active member of Kiwanis, the Antique Club, P.E.A.C.E., and the Polk County Historical Association. She played adult soccer and coached youth soccer. She was very involved in the Democratic Party, and served as a delegate for the state of Florida for many years. She was also an active member of First United Methodist Church, even serving as a delegate for the Florida Annual Conference.

She was easily recognizable by her elegant fashion sense (especially her many hats!), and was beloved by many for her ability to make them feel like family. Her love of the arts, her church, her country, the environment, and her family were obvious to all who knew her.

She is survived by her loving husband Dick Sargeant, her children Dean Shull (Tasha) and Mary Ann Koon (Dr. James), her stepchildren Ashley Sargeant Hagan (Greg), Shea Sargeant Nagel (Eric), Captain Chase Sargeant (Cherie), and Dr. Tosh Sargeant (Tina), her brother Robert Grizzard (Betsy), and niece Cecelia Grizzard Schwartzman (David), as well as eleven grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Monday, August 28th, at 10:00 AM at First United Methodist Church