Ann Jarvis Hinson died the evening of Jan. 10 in Marianna after a brief bout with leukemia and heart complications. She was 87.
Hinson was born in Polk County, Fla., and grew up in Bartow during the Great Depression. She lost her parents at a young age and during the CB radio craze of the ‘70s her handle was Little Orphan Annie.In 1947, Hinson met her future husband, Richard L. “Dick” Hinson, at the Alpha Delta Pi house on the Florida State University campus. For their first date, they attended a Florida State football game.
After their marriage in 1948 and a honeymoon at Wakulla Springs Lodge, the young newlyweds moved to Marianna, where they raised four rambunctious sons on a farm along the Chipola River. The property is now home to the public Hinson Conservation and Recreation Area. In 1962, she played a large role with her husband in creating the independent Hinson Insurance Agency, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012. Hinson was a canoeist, a fine swimmer and fan of wildlife, particularly birds. She loved movies, especially ones starring Richard Gere. An avid traveler, she visited many countries including Spain, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, England and Japan. Even though she was a polite Southern lady, Hinson had a dark wit and a sardonic sense of humor. She also knew how to throw a swell party.
She is survived by her four sons – Richard (and Mary), Robert (and Toni), Randall (and Debra), all of Marianna, and Mark (and Amy) of Tallahassee. Hinson was a doting grandmother to her four grandchildren – Melissa, Rob, Michael and Amy – and had six great grandchildren. Her brother, Robert Hendrick, makes his home in Winter Haven.
A memorial is planned for 10 a.m. (CST) Saturday, Jan. 14, at the First United Methodist Church’s Wesley Center in Marianna. A reception will follow the service. The family requests that donations be made to the Chipola College Foundation or The Jackson County Public Library or the First United Methodist Church.
Marianna Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Expressions of sympathy may be submitted online at www.mariannachapelfh.com.