Mr. Dwight Idus Groves, 60, of Lawtey, Fla. died Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2019 in the St. Vincent’s Riverside Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla. following a brief illness.
Mr. Groves was born in Jacksonville and resided in Macclenny, Fla. before moving to Lawtey six years ago. He was a former police officer for the City of Baldwin and Starke in Florida and worked as a firefighter/EMT with Nassau County Fire Rescue until his retirement in 1998.
He was a member of the Baldwin First United Methodist Church, a graduate of Baldwin High School and Florida Junior College of Jacksonville. He was a deputy sheriff with the Baker County Sheriff’s Axillary for 24 years until his retirement in 2017.
Mr. Groves loved the Florida Gators, hunting, fishing, golfing and was an avid outdoors person.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William Bill Groves, Jr. and Betty Hudson Groves. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Joy C. Groves of Lawtey; three sons, Lamar (Kellie) Rosier of Bryceville, Fla., Tyler A. Groves of Lawtey and Hunter (Bree) Groves of Starke; one brother, Duane (Debra) Groves of Baldwin; six grandchildren, Brianna, Brice, Braelyn, Carson, Savannah and Gemma.
A funeral service to honor the life of Mr. Groves was held at noon Saturday, Sept. 14 in the Baldwin First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Richard Fish, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Maxville, Fla. officiating and assisted by the Rev. Ike Mathews, pastor of the Baldwin United Methodist Church. Interment was in Brandy Branch Cemetery in Bryceville. Visitation and gathering with the family was from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13 at the church. Guerry Funeral Home, U.S. 90 East, Macclenny, was in charge of arrangements.