Elsie O'Berry Lang

Elsie was born May 13, 1943, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Elsie was the youngest child of Warren Holman O’Berry and Elsie Turner O’Berry (Warren Jr., Elaine, Mary, and “Baby Elsie”). She grew up in the family home on Haines Road and she attended Northeast High School, where she was a member of the Class of 1961. Elsie then graduated from St. Petersburg Junior College in 1963 and the University of Florida College of Education in 1965. Upon returning to St. Petersburg after graduation, Elsie was a teacher and then a supervisor in the Pinellas County School System.

Elsie was a member of the O’Berry family, pioneers in Pinellas County dating back to September 1900 when her grandfather, John Jordan O’Berry, and his wife Emma traveled for four days in a two-horse wagon with their eight children (including Elsie’s father Warren) from Pasco County to re-settle in St. Petersburg.

Elsie’s father, Warren, later served in the U.S. Army Air Service as a balloonist in World War I. Upon returning from the Great War, he co-founded Milne- O’Berry Packing Company, one of the largest citrus packing companies on the West Coast of Florida. As a child, Elsie greatly enjoyed spending time in the groves and packing house with her father. When her father passed away in May 1961, the responsibility for running the company fell to the family. After returning home from the University of Florida, Elsie eventually served as an officer and was integral to the management of the company.

Elsie married her husband of 52 years, Joseph H. Lang, in 1965. They were members of Holy Cross Catholic Church for decades and she lived in the home they built in Parque Narvaez in West St. Petersburg for over 50 years. When her sons were young, Elsie took a hiatus from teaching to be a homemaker and focused upon raising her children. When her sons were older, she also took on a vital role in managing the administration of her husband’s law firm, Baynard, McLeod, & Lang, P.A. All three of Elsie’s sons followed in Joe’s footsteps and are members of The Florida Bar.

Elsie was a constant presence at her husband’s side at her sons’ sporting events and in the community at civic events. Elsie loved taking trips in the family R.V. to Fort Wilderness at Walt Disney World and to Gainesville to attend University of Florida football games.

Elsie was predeceased by Joe in 2018. She is survived by her three sons, Joseph Hagedorn Lang, Jr., Robert Warren Lang, and James O’Berry Lang, and eight grandchildren: Katie (Wesley), Joey III, Mason, Ryan, Warren (“Wren”), Dobbs, Henry, and Mims. She is also survived by her three daughters-in-law, Annette, Randy, and Courtney.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, July 6, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in St. Petersburg followed by a reception at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club at 12 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that any donations be sent in Elsie’s name to the St. Petersburg College Foundation.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.neptunesociety.com/location/tampa-cremation for the Lang family.