Zelda Maie Curran Waterfield, age 91, passed away on Monday, June 5, 2023. She is now in the loving arms of God, surrounded by the beauty and wonder of heaven that she believed in so deeply. A longtime resident of Winter Park, Florida, she was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 30, 1931. She is preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Delia Curran, and her sister, Frances Lucille, who passed as an infant. Zelda Maie grew up in Concord, North Carolina and graduated from Concord High School. She then married the love of her life, Bobby Joe Waterfield, on April 22, 1950. Bobby Joe and “Z-Maie”, as he affectionately calls her, happily celebrated 73 years of marriage this year.
Zelda Maie was a homemaker, seamstress, and florist; throughout the 60s, 70s, and 80s, she owned and operated both Alex Florist and Oviedo Florist. She was passionate about flowers, music, birds, crafting, animals, and genealogy. She was a member of St. Andrews United Methodist Church and a former member of Aloma United Methodist Church. Furthermore, she genuinely cherished the deep friendships she and Bobby Joe made as members of the Winter Park Elks lodge over the past 40 years.
Zelda Maie was a wonderful mother to her daughters and she loved taking her girls camping in nature as children. When her grandchildren were young, she enjoyed hosting them for summers in both Florida and North Carolina, taking them to theme parks, doing arts and crafts, giving piano lessons, and teaching them and neighborhood children manners classes. She even wrote a published book on manners!
Zelda Maie will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and community. She is survived by her husband, Bobby Joe Waterfield, her daughters Marlys O’Malley, Genna Herbert (Ric), and Monte Waterfield, her grandchildren Nikki Broitman (Jed), TJ Tolbert, Ricky Herbert, Crystal Nicosia, Amelia Gillis (Brannon), Delia Collins, Emily Rae Smith, and Lena Nations (Will), and great-grandchildren Leola Rose Broitman, Ozzy Broitman, Margo Broitman, Tristan Horwath, Sebastian Nicosia, Brady Gillis, Lane Gillis, Caroline Gillis, Adleigh Collins, Chandler Collins, Sullivan Nations, and Elliott Nations.
Zelda Maie will be remembered for her kind heart, fashionable flair, and her love for Jesus. A celebration of Zelda Maie’s life will be held at St. Andrews United Methodist Church on Monday, June 12, 2023, at 1 p.m. Her family will be accepting visitors in the hour prior to the service.