- Date Of Birth: February 1, 1943
- Date Of Death: July 30, 2021
- City: Pax
- State: West Virginia
Danny Lane Mullins “Ga-Ga”, 78
Okeechobee – Danny Lane Mullins passed July 30, 2021, at Raulerson Hospital surrounded by his family who never left his side. He was born February 1, 1943, in Pax, West Virginia to Woodfin Grady Mullins and Inez Ellison Mullins. He graduated from Pineville High school in 1960; graduated from Concord College with his Bachelor’s Degree in 1964; and earned his Masters in Educational Leadership in 1970.
He moved to Okeechobee in 1965 and served as a business education teacher at Okeechobee High School. Later he became Principal of Okeechobee Junior High School and then South Elementary. He went on to become Curriculum Director. In 1983 he was later named Superintendent of Okeechobee County School district until his retirement in 1998. At the time of his retirement, he was the longest-running superintendent in Florida at 15 years. An article written about Danny in 1998 sums it up perfectly, “Danny has been one of Okeechobee’s most successful school superintendents and one of the most successful in the state during his era. During his tenure, Okeechobee County Schools became the envy of school systems in surrounding counties”. Schools in Okeechobee that were built under his direction were Osceola Middle School, Seminole, and Everglades.
He served his community well: He served on Raulerson Hospital board as Chairman for nine years, and board of trustees for 14 years; he was elected as the first President of Okeechobee Educational Foundation where he served for 15 years then continued on as director; he was a member of the Juvenile Justice Council of Okeechobee, Committee to Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Charter founder of the Heartland Education Consortium; Rotary Club member; and received the Florida Department of Education Superintendent Award and Florida Atlantic Leadership award. He was honored with the LAMP award (outstanding contributions in the education field) by the Florida Association of School Administrators.
Danny was an avid fisherman and spent many summers in the Keys with his family, who still continue the tradition each year.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Kay Mullins, his twin brother, David Mullins; and his parents Woodfin Grady Mullins and Inez Ellison Mullins.
He is survived by his current wife, Anneliz Watford Mullins; daughter, Samantha Vandegrift (Craig), of Port St Lucie; son, Danny “Bubba” Mullins, of Okeechobee; grandchildren, Kyle Mullins, Alexandra Vandegrift, Katelyn Rhoades (Eric); nieces, Deanna Gude (Ricky), Trisha Bolan (Ben), and David Mullins, Jr.; sister-in-law, Bonnie Mullins; great-nephew, Michael Transue; great-nieces, Ashley Howard, Jordan Bolan, Morgan Bolan, and Matthew Gude; stepgrandchildren, Tyler Watford, Cassidy Watford, Cayson, Layton, and Kurran Lowe; great-grandchildren, Beckham and Kennedy Rhoades. In addition, he is survived by his mother-in-law, Alma Albert; stepdaughter, Ashley Watford Lowe (Raymond), of Okeechobee; and stepson, Randy Watford, of Okeechobee.
