Nina J. Shuman

The Democratic Women’s Club of Highlands County extends its deepest sympathy on the passing of Nina J. Shuman. Nina’s legacy lives on through her unwavering commitment to education and opportunity. Together with her partner, Cynthia Schumacher, she established a DWC scholarship to support young members pursuing higher education. Through their generosity and vision, many lives were enriched and futures strengthened. Nina’s dedication to learning, civic engagement, and the growth of our DWC community will be remembered with gratitude and respect.

Obituary Courtesy of Highlands News-Sun:

Nina Joyce Shuman, 97, of Sebring, Florida, died Dec. 14, 2025. She was born Sept. 14, 1928, in Dunnellon, Florida, the daughter of George W. Shuman and Olivia Toffaletti Shuman, who is deceased. She had three sisters: Gloria S. Gaines of Summerfield, Florida; Leatrice S. Haffner of Athens, Georgia, who was also deceased; and Sandra S. Pilon of Denver, Colorado.

She obtained bachelor of science and master of science degrees in education, as well as an master’s degree in library science, from Florida State University. She served as a classroom teacher in the elementary schools of Lake County, Florida, for 33 years. She was active in the leadership and on many committees of the Lake County Education Association and was a retired life member of this organization and of the Florida Education Association, the National Education Association, and the American Federation of Teachers. After her retirement in 1985, she continued to work as an educator on the school board of St. Paul’s Catholic School in Leesburg, Florida, for 16 years, where she served as chairman of the board. She was also actively involved

in other organizations, including the League of Women Voters of Lake County and the Beta and Gamma Delta Chapters in Florida of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.

She co-sponsored the Phoenix Fund for Professional Development in Public Schools, an endowment established at Florida State University. She was a member of Women for FSU and continued to support the activities of the FSU College of Education.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Jan. 7, 2026, at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Avon Park, Florida. A private interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Ocala, Florida. In lieu of flowers, contri-

butions may be made to the Catholic Community of St. Paul in Leesburg, Florida, to Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Avon Park, Florida, to the Florida State University Foundation (P.O. Box 3062739, Tallahassee, FL 32310-9900), with the donation stipulated for the FSU College of Education, and to Highlands Lakeside Theatre in Sebring, Florida.

Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home of Sebring, Florida, is in charge of arrangements.