Erika Layne Chambers

Erika Layne Chambers, age 51, of St. Petersburg, FL, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 17, 2017, surrounded by her family and loved ones. Erika was preceded in death by her son, Raymond Gleaton, and is survived by her daughter, Avery Chambers. She is also survived by her parents, Daniel and Georgia Furlong; her two brothers, Matthew and Christopher Furlong; her sister, Catherine Coleman; her sisters-in-law, Leslie and Jodi Furlong; and, her niece, Isabella Furlong. Erika was born in Denton, Texas on June 15, 1966. Her parents lived in Texas, Connecticut, England, New Mexico, Colorado, Virginia, Florida and Delaware during her upbringing which may have contributed to her love of travel. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education at the University of South Florida and was a certified teacher who taught for nearly twenty years in both public and Catholic school systems in Florida, Delaware, Kentucky and Colorado. She was also an excellent florist who acquired her design skills while working part time with her mother at the family’s florist shop in St. Petersburg, FL. In addition to her floral design skills, Erika was quite the gardener. She had the unique ability to bring back the deadest of dead plants or flowers with her magical love and care. When not working in her garden, she was an avid reader and often escaped into the world of mystery and fantasy simply by picking up a book. Erika also enjoyed writing and had a number of her stories and poems published. Her very favorite thing was loving her daughter, Avery. She would do so by cuddling and snuggling with her until Avery could get one of the family dogs to trade places with her “ all in good fun and sadly, all will be missed. Rest in peace, Mom. A gathering for family and friends will be held from 10:00 am until 11:00 am on Friday morning, July 7, 2017 at the Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 1000 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE, where a memorial service will begin at 11:00 am. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Erika’s memory to the Fisher House Foundation, 111 Rockville Pike, #420, Rockville, MD 20850 or to the American Lung Association, P.O. Box 7000, Albert Lea, MN 56007-8001.