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Light a Candle
Elmo Rogers Hoffman, 78, Orlando, passed away on Monday, July 29, 2013. He was born in Salisbury, North Carolina on July 7, 1935. He grew up in Kannapolis, N.C. and as a teen played football (tight end and defensive end). He also played clarinet in the high school band and tenor saxophone in his high school dance band. He graduated high school in 1953 and attended the University of South Carolina where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and US Air Force ROTC. He received a B.S. in Business Administration in 1957. In 1956, a year before graduating, he married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Helena Powell. They remained faithful companions for over 50 years, separated only by her passing in 2009. Upon graduation from U.S.C., Mo and Nancy moved to Jacksonville, FL where he worked for Prudential Insurance Company until 1963 at which time he made the decision to attend Stetson University, College of Law. Mo thrived in his law school environment, participating in moot court and representing his university at regional competitions in Miami and Atlanta. In 1966 he received his J.D. degree after which the couple returned to Jacksonville where Mo joined a defense firm. Within two years he was made a junior partner and the couple relocated south where Mo led the firm office in Daytona Beach. In 1969 Mo decided to open his own firm (Hoffman, Hendry and Parker) with a final move to Orlando where he practiced law for more than 40 years. He truly loved his profession and recounting courtroom dramas and debating legal issues with colleagues, friends and family members. Another of Mo's passions was theology. A lifelong Christian, grounded in his strong faith, he went back to school later in life, receiving a Masters in Theological Studies from Asbury Seminary in 2005. He was ordained as a minister in the Disciples of Christ Church the following year and found great joy sharing his faith with others through pulpit preaching and leading Sunday school classes. Mo also loved fishing and turning wood bowls. He created many long-lasting memories through sharing these hobbies with family and friends. He was a true family man and will be remembered and revered for his unconditional affection and support which he bestowed on his adored wife and immensely loved children and grandchildren. Mo is survived by his brother, David Paul Hoffman (Columbus, GA), son, Dana Powell Hoffman (St. Petersburg, FL), daughter, Heidi Hoffman Harne (Orlando, FL) and four grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 16th, at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1655 Peel Avenue, Orlando at 3:00 p.m. Arrangement entrusted to the National Cremation Society, 7565 Red Bug Lake Road, Oviedo. Please consider donations in memory to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in lieu of flowers.
