Colleen Bevis

Colleen Lunsford Bevis (1916–2013) was a prominent children's advocate in Hillsborough County, Florida, US. She was active for six decades and instrumental in founding the Children's Board of Hillsboough County. She became Florida state president of the Parent Teachers Association.

Biography

Colleen Lunsford was born on September 5, 1916, to J.J. and Geraldine Lunsford, one of eight brothers and sisters. A Hillsborough County native, Colleen attended E. Lee Elementary School, graduated from Brandon High School, and went on to attend the University of Tampa. Upon graduation, she went on to marry H. Wayne Bevis, who became an executive for Eastern Air Lines of Tampa. Colleen and her husband have three daughters, Dorothy Ann Ward, Beverly Bevis, and Judith Bevis Langevin. Colleen was step-mother to Dorothy Ann Ward, who preceded her in death. Colleen joined the local PTA in 1951, where she later became a local president. This was her initial step towards a long career of child advocacy. One of her most notable accomplishments was her role in the creation of the Hillsborough County Children's Board, which she organized alongside of Hillsborough County Commissioner, Jan Platt.

Bevis volunteered with multiple organizations, including the Hillsborough PTA, the Florida Public School Board, and the Hillsborough County Department of Children's Services board of advisers, of which she also chaired. Northside Residential Unit for Emotionally disturbed Children dedicated to Colleen Lunsford, 1981 Eliza Woolf Award for Service to the Community, Tampa United Methodist Centers, 1981 Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners named the Children's Services Office the Colleen Lunsford Bevis Administration Building, 1986 Public Citizen of the Year, Tampa Bay Unit of the National Association of Social Workers, 1982

Death and legacy

Bevis died on October 11, 2013, at her home in Hillsborough County, Florida. Recently, the Children's Board dedicated a board room in Colleen's honor as well.