Permelia Anne Folsom, 82, of Valparaiso, Fla., fell asleep in the Lord on Monday, March 1, 2021 at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center. A native of Madison, Anne joined the family of Vernon Massey and Ruth Pate Folsom on April 2, 1938, and was the little sister to Emma.
Music was a major part of Anne's young life in Madison. She took piano and voice lessons from Waller Whitlock and dance lessons at Lamoyne Hancock's Dance Studio, sang in the Chancel Choir at Madison United Methodist Church and played trumpet and baritone in the school band. She was also on the basketball team, a cheerleader and a member of Girls' State. At Florida State University, Anne was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, Sigma Alpha Iota (music fraternity) and earned a Bachelor of Music Education in 1960 and a Master of Music Education in 1972.
After interning at Choctawhatchee High School with Bryan Lindsay in 1960, Anne became Choral Director at Ruckel Junior High School in Niceville, Fla. until her retirement in 1990. For 30 years, she instilled the joy of singing in hundreds of students and was privileged to witness many of them choosing choral music as a vocation or avocation in schools and churches. Anne served several area churches as choir director. She was also the first choral director at OWJC and at the newly established Niceville High School during its first year (1963-64). Anne's beautiful soprano voice enhanced several area church choirs, of which she was a faithful member.
For many years, Anne served in capacities of leadership in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and the Florida Vocal Association. She also presented Interest Sessions at ACDA conventions and was an Honor Choir/All-State Conductor and Adjudicator throughout Florida, and in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. Anne was selected as Ruckel Teacher of the Year in 1975, and Florida Music Educator of the Year in 1990.
Anne was preceded in death by her parents; and sister and brother-in-law, Emma and Buddy Wyche.
She is survived by her best friend/housemate of 52 years, Phyllis Merritt; nephews and families: Dub, Lynn, Joshua (Katie, Harper, Este) and Kaleb Wyche; Folsom, Robbin, Magnolia and Lily Wyche; cousins of the Pate and Folsom families; extended families of Sandy C. Edgerton, Lew Christoffel, Steve Taylor, Jeff Taylor and Jeanne T. Orach; and many long-time and loving friends.
A celebration of life and song will be scheduled after the restraints of COVID-19 have been lifted. Her ashes will be placed in the Folsom family plot in Madison. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to the music ministry of First Presbyterian Church, 134 SW Beal Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. 32548. Expressions of love and sympathy may be placed and viewed at emeraldcoastfuneralhome. com.