Carol Anne Jessup

SARASOTA - On March 4, 2024, Sarasota lost a favorite daughter with the passing of Carol Anne Jessup at the tender age of 72. Carol was born April 18, 1951, to Violet and Anthony Blackwell, in Highland Park, Michigan, but while still a teenager, she fled to Sarasota. Upon arrival, her tall frame, blonde hair, and fetching countenance made her so conspicuous that she was named the 1969 Shriner Queen, then the 1970 Miss Sarasota. She shortly parleyed her charms into catching and marrying Thomas S. Jessup II, a former Navy Seabee and diver, who ultimately, through hard work, became the foremost appliance retailer in the region. A few years later, she gave Tom a daughter, Lisa Marie Jessup--a gift that keeps on giving. Carol was known for her exceptional sense of humor and contagious laugh that could be heard two houses away. She loved to spoil children and Golden Retrievers, though not necessarily in that order. She had an infinite capacity for friendship and generosity, always putting others first. She was also a person of strong Christian faith. Her tender care toward her parents in their final days was extraordinary. Her beauty was as stunning inside as it was outside.

Carol is pre-deceased by her parents and her brother, William Blackwell. She is survived by Tom, to whom she gave herself completely for five decades, and her loving daughter, Lisa. She is also survived by her niece, Laura Blackwell.

A memorial service will be held on Carol’s birthday, April 18, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Robert Toale & Sons Funeral Home at Palms Memorial Park, 170 Honore Avenue, Sarasota. It will be followed immediately by a birthday celebration for Carol.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to Satchel’s Last Resort Animal Rescue. www.satchelslastresort.org