04/10/2026
Clara Nell Dantzler passed away peacefully in Winter Haven on April 7, 2026, with her three sons by her side. She was 93 years old.
Born on April 24, 1932, in Adel, GA., Clara Nell was the fourth child of the late Carrie Griffin Whelchel and the late Emmett Vickery Whelchel. The family later moved to a farm in Hapeville, GA, where she and her four siblings enjoyed an adventurous life with rambunctious brothers and a caring big sister. After a number of years on the farm, the family moved to Moultrie, GA, where her father was Superintendent of Public Schools.
After graduating from the University of Georgia, where she was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority, she moved to Albany, GA where she began teaching first graders. It was during this time, on a weekend trip back home to Moultrie, that she met her future husband, Richard “Dick” Dantzler, who was working there, having recently graduated from the University of Florida. This began a courtship that resulted in their marriage on June 19, 1954. They were married for 53 years.
Soon after being married, Dick joined the Army. When his time in the service ended, he and Clara Nell moved to Dick’s hometown of Winter Haven in 1956. She began teaching school again, first at Snively Elementary and then at Lake Shipp Elementary. Teaching first graders was particularly special to her and she once remarked that work couldn’t be much better than that.
After having children, she stopped teaching full time but continued substituting. Her commitment to education was steadfast, drilled into her by her father to whom education was as important as breathing. She kept helping where she could as a member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization, Chapter BN.
A good athlete, Clara Nell excelled at sports, first as a basketball player and later in tennis and golf. She enjoyed tennis and golf for more than forty years.
She loved her many friends, especially her fellow members of the Gardenia Garden Club of Winter Haven and several card groups where Bridge was the game of choice. She also kept up with sorority sisters from college.
She and her family were members of First Presbyterian Church of Winter Haven, where she served as a Deacon and Elder and taught Sunday School with her husband for years.
Perhaps nothing was as important to her as family. She and Dick raised three boys - Rick, Todd, and Brad – and she was always there for them, helping where she could but strong and wise enough to let them make mistakes. Her children are grateful that their parents showed them many wonderful places in this great country as they grew up and made sure they had places to hunt and fish and experience the great outdoors in Florida. She was also a good sport to cook whatever they brought home, from fish to rabbits to doves, because the rule was you ate whatever you harvested.
Her love of family manifested itself strongly with her grandchildren, and “MawMaw” was nothing but fun and love to them. And to her, her grandkids were in technicolor while the rest of world was in black and white. Each grandchild has individual stories of their time with her, and together they played games and did things that occasionally tried Dick’s patience. Nevertheless, the fun went on. As the grandchildren grew up and got on with their lives, she always made it a point to know how they were doing and what was going on with them.
The family would like to publicly thank Clara Nell’s four caregivers, Lisa Jones, Yvonne Gilbert, Maria Hernandez, and Connie Shipley, for the care they provided over the last three years, as well as the many nurses, doctors, and caregivers who provided care during the last eight months of her life. Finally, a special thanks to Dr. Ed Williard, Clara Nell’s primary physician for many years, for his personal commitment to her care.
Clara Nell Dantzler was a cheerful and positive force of energy and joy who brightened the lives of those who spent time with her. As her earthly life was coming to a close, one of her sons suggested that since none of us know when our time will come, every time she closes her eyes to go to sleep, she should “look for Dad.” Without missing a beat, she said, “I think he’s waiting for me.” And indeed, we are sure he was.
She is survived by her children, son Rick Dantzler (Julie), son Todd, and son Brad (Sue); grandchildren Dr. Liz Peek (Walker), Dr. Margaret Dantzler (Peter Szeremeta), Hannah Fleming (Jonathan), Jacob Dantzler (Savannah), L.B. Dantzler (Colby), and Blake Dantzler; and great-grandchildren Anna Peek, Palmer Peek, William “Bo” Szeremeta, Mackenzie (Mackie) Szeremeta, Porter Flemming, Wesley Fleming, Slone Dantzler, Dolyn Dantzler, and Decker Dantzler.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Dick Dantzler, four brothers, Emmett “Bubba” Whelchel, Griff Whelchel, and Tom Whelchel, and a sister, Carolyn Mills.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks that friends consider donating to First Presbyterian Church of Winter Haven or John Snively Elementary School PTO in Eloise, FL.
