William “Will” McRee Maxwell

July 14, 2017

William “Will” McRee Maxwell, 68, of Quincy died July 14, 2017.  A native and resident of Gadsden County, he was a devoted husband, father and friend.

He graduated from McCallie High School and Clemson University, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma and Alpha Gamma Rho.

After completing his studies at Clemson, Will returned to Quincy to join in the family business.  Unfortunately, the late 1970s brought the demise of the tobacco business in North Florida.  When that occurred, Will helped his father transition his lands from growing tobacco to growing tomatoes. Tomato farming became established in the county, and Will served as a leader in the industry for the next several decades.

As a lifelong farmer, Will was a partner at Maxwell and Suber, Inc.  He was a former partner and President of Gadsden Tomato Company. He served on the Gadsden County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and he and his family were named the Farm Family of the Year in 1985 by the Florida Farm Bureau.  Will was a director for the Northwest Florida Livestock Association and The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. He was the recipient of the Gamma Sigma Delta Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award of Merit by the University of Florida Chapter. He served as the President of the Gadsden County Tomato Growers Association. In 2004, Will was inducted into the UF/IFAS NFREC Hall of Fame in Gadsden County.

In addition to many years of service in agriculture, Will was a member of First Presbyterian Church, a founding member of the Willacoochee Creek Hunting Club and served as a director for the Quincy State Bank.  He was also a Trustee for Robert F. Munroe Day School.

Will is survived by his wife, Deborah Miller Maxwell, his two daughters, Elder Maxwell Booth (Ben), Gainesville, Ga. and Lawson Miller Maxwell Blankenship (Shay), Sylacauga, Ala. He was blessed with two granddaughters, McRee Lane Booth and Maxwell Arrington Booth.  He is also survived by a sister, Penny Maxwell Dehler (Moritz), a sister-in-law, Susanne Bradford Maxwell Mahaffey, a longtime business partner and dear friend, Stewart Suber, many special nephews, nieces and cousins, and his constant four- legged companion, Clemson Cate.

He was predeceased by his parents, Thomas Lawson and Sallie Elder McRee Maxwell, and brothers, Thomas McRee Maxwell and Robert Haliburton Maxwell.

A memorial service is planned for Monday, July 17, 2017, at 11 a.m., First Presbyterian Church in Quincy. Private burial will follow.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Robert F. Munroe Day School, 91 Old Mt. Pleasant Road, Quincy, FL 32352 or First Presbyterian Church, 306 North Madison Street, Quincy, FL 32351.

Charles McClellan Funeral Home, Quincy, FL., (850) 627-7677, is in charge of arrangements.