Friends and family of Rivers Bus Sales Vice President Jim Searcy who can not be on hand for his funeral services can now attend online.
Searcy died July 6 of congestive heart failure. He was 68. For those who can not physically attend the funeral, you can go online to the Westside Baptist Web site and watch the services via live video streaming.
Searcy was the industry contact at Rivers Bus for all IC Bus accounts throughout the state. Michael McCullough, GM at Rivers Bus, said in an e-mail that the industry veteran passed away Wednesday morning after a long battle with the disease. Florida Association for Pupil Transportation members learned of Searcy’s death later that afternoon.
“In spirit and action, Jim was, and in our memories, will always be a dedicated member of the Florida school transportation family,” McCullough wrote. “Please keep the Searcy family in your thoughts and prayers as they move through this difficult time.
Shirley Higgins, executive director of FAPT, said Searcy attended the association’s recent Summer Symposium, held June 28-29 in Ocala, Fla. FAPT also honored him with two awards in recognition of his long and exemplary service to the industry.
“He looked good but was really frail; he was smiling and seemed very happy to be there,” Higgins added.
A memorial service was scheduled for July 15 at 11 a.m. Eastern at Westside Baptist Church, 7775 Herlong Road, Jacksonville, FL 32210. In lieu of flowers, Searcy requested that donations be made to: Fellowship Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 338, Raiford, FL 32083, or Community Hospice Foundation, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257.
Rivers Bus his a family-owned and -operated bus and RV dealership that was established in 1919. The company was named an IC Bus dealer in the mid-1990s, and since the company has won multiple “Southeast Dealer of the Year” awards. Previously the dealership sold AmTran school buses prior to the company being acquired by Navistar and renamed IC Bus.
A memorial service honoring Jim Searcy will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 15, 2011, at the Westside Baptist Church, 7775 Herlong Road, Jacksonville, FL 32210.
In lieu of flowers, it was Jim’s request that donations be made to Fellowship Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 338, Raiford, FL 32083, or Community Hospice Foundation, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257 (www.communityhospice.com).
