Ernestine Driggers

June 22, 1938 - June 11, 2019

Ernestine (Ernie) Driggers was born June 22, 1938 in Daytona Beach, FL to Ernest Lawrence (E.L.) Bailey and Annette (Collier) Bailey. She was their middle child. Ernestine is survived by her older sister, Elizabeth (Billie) Henderson and younger brother, Robert (Bob) W. Bailey. The Bailey Family lived in New Smyrna Beach and Ernestine was a proud graduate of New Smyrna High School class of 1955. Ernie was a cheerleader in high school and remained friends with several of the cheerleaders and classmates all of these years. Ernestine is survived by her husband William (Bill) Jefferson Driggers of Daytona Beach and her three children, Traci Buckley, Wade Driggers and Amy (Driggers) Pattison. Ernestine had 4 grandchildren, Steven Buckley, Amanda Buckley, Bailey Pattison and Brooklyn Pattison. She loved and adored her grandchildren. Ernestine spent several years working in support position for Education. She worked at the Orange County School Board as the supervisor of accounting and eventually left there to pursue “life on the farm” on 24 acres in Cassia, outside of Eustis, where she lived with her son Wade in her latter years. Ernestine began the hobby of collecting antiques and fulfilled her dream to have an antique shop in Eustis for a couple of years. In 1983 Ernestine began working at Lake Sumter Community College where she held various roles in her 17 years there. She worked in admissions, financial aid, student services, counseling secretary and the LSCC Foundation. Her favorite job was the Student Activities Director where she worked with students on Student Government and was the Sponsor/Manager of the LCSS Cheerleaders. Her office was in the Student Union where the Students would come by daily to visit and check in with her. She loved them all. She retired from LCSS in 2000. During her retirement she enjoyed becoming involved with church and the Cassia Community. She loved to volunteer and serve and gave often to many charities. She also traveled to Ponte Vedra often to enjoy her granddaughters Bailey and Brooklyn. She attended every recital, play, program, award banquet and graduation that she could and supported them in all of their activities. Ernestine loved her church and church family at First Baptist Church of Umatilla. Ernestine loved the Lord. She was passionate about her faith and always told her daughter Amy what Pastor Brooks had said on Sunday during their Monday afternoon phone calls. Ernestine loved her family with all her heart. The gift of time with her family and friends was her greatest joy. She made a point of knowing everyone that she came in contact with and making them laugh. She loved to make people laugh. She loved the Florida Gators, reading, painting, cooking and Christmas. She and her son, Wade, were constant companions. They took care of each other. She will be forever missed. A memorial service has been planned for Ernestine on June 22, 2019 (her 81st birthday). The service will be at 2:00 pm with a fellowship to follow at 3:00 at First Baptist Church of Umatilla. Located at: 550 Hatfield Dr. Umatilla, FL 32784 In lieu of flowers please consider sending or bringing balloons (pink was her favorite color) or making a donation in Ernestine’s honor to the Tim Tebow Foundation https://www.timtebowfoundation.org/donate. Services have been entrusted to Hamlin and Hilbish Funeral Directors , located at: 326 E. Orange Ave. Eustis, FL 32726. Memories and condolences may be shared with the Driggers family on the tribute wall.