By Brenda Eubank Burnette
Thanksgiving, for me, has always been a time to pause and reflect — to look back with gratitude at the blessings that have shaped my life. Inevitably, that reflection leads to a few chuckles and a lot of “What if I hadn’t done this… met them… or listened to my mother?” You may laugh, but I wouldn’t have married my husband if she hadn’t convinced me to give him a second chance! So yes, I’m thankful for the people I’ve met and the paths I’ve taken — or didn’t take — that led me here.
Therefore, when I stumbled upon an old manila envelope last week that my mother must have handed me when I moved to Wellington in 1992, it made me pause. At the time, I was pregnant with my son, Hunter, and still commuting to the Florida Citrus Showcase in Winter Haven until the new building in Auburndale was ready. Inside the envelope was nearly every article written about my years as Miss Winter Haven and Florida Citrus Queen.
Reading them, I was struck by how one opportunity changed everything. I might have gone to the University of South Florida to study communications, but instead I accepted an extended trip to Japan as the Florida Citrus Queen. That led to my role as a consumer spokesperson for the Florida Department of Citrus, which opened the door to becoming executive director of the Florida Citrus Showcase and eventually to my work with the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame and the Miss Florida Citrus Pageant.
Along the way, I met people who deepened my love for the citrus industry. Jerry Chicone, Jr. and Jim Ellis introduced me to citrus crate labels. This sparked a passion that led to two books with Jerry — back when we were faxing edits instead of emailing them! Jerry was a mentor in every sense, even sending me home during the Citrus Festival because he sensed something was off. He was right. I was pregnant with Hunter and didn’t know it yet!
I’m grateful for our citrus queens, including LaVoyce Leggett Porter, Lori Schirard (whose parents treated me like family), Mandy Jarrett and so many others who represented our industry with grace and continue to mentor young women today. I’m still in touch with many of them and was deeply moved when 22 of them came together to celebrate our 100-year anniversary last year.
My Hall of Fame family holds a special place in my heart: John Jackson, Quentin Roe, Lindsay Raley (whose father, Bill, sponsored me as queen), George Hamner (my golfing buddy and fellow fundraiser), Dan Richey (almost a brother-in-law!) and longtime favorites like Brantley Schirard, Hugh English, Rex McPherson (Hall of Fame tablemate!), George Austin, Buddy Johnson and so very many more. Some are no longer with us: Nancy Gurnett Hardy (my second mother), Willard Roe, Frank Trovillion, Bob Barben, Victor Knight, Frank Hunt, Bernie Lester and the loss of my dear friend Jerry earlier this year make the absences even more profound. It’s a reminder of how vital the Hall of Fame oral history program is to capture these citrus stories while we still can.
I am thankful for those who supported my citrus gift line — ties, calendars, cards, prints, miniature crates, etc. — and for everyone who’s read my Citrus Industry “Pieces of the Past” column over the past decade. Your encouragement has meant the world.
There were so many moments that could have gone differently. Though I wasn’t born into a citrus family, you’ve become mine. I’ve been blessed with a larger, richer family than I ever imagined. This Thanksgiving, I’m giving thanks for all of you for the blessings you’ve brought into my life.
May your Thanksgiving be filled with the same kind of joy, connection and reflection you’ve given me. Let’s keep looking back, learning, remembering and passing it on — blessing by blessing.
Brenda Eubanks Burnette is the former executive director of the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame and is currently president of the board of Vero Heritage, Inc., which operates The Heritage Center and Indian River Citrus Museum in Vero Beach, Florida.
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