Laura "Toollie" Harkins

Laura “Toollie” Harkins passed away peacefully at home on June 6th, 2025. Born January 19th, 1934, she was born and raised in Marianna, FL. She was the twin daughter of James and Laura Streetman. Her twin brother was Felder “Bubba” Streetman. While being referred to as "baby number two," the nickname "Toollie" evolved into the beloved name everyone has come to know her by throughout her life. Toollie obtained an education degree from her beloved Florida State University, all while raising Jimmy and Mary, both under age three. After returning to Marianna in 1959, Jim and Toollie moved into his mother’s home, she started her teaching career at F.M. Golson Elementary School, where she taught for 11 years. As the years went on, they welcomed their third child, Allen, in 1967.

Multitalented, she started her own business, “The Doorknob” in 1975, which was open for 16 years. She was a member of the “Upper Room” adult Sunday school class since its infancy in 1965 at the First United Methodist Church, where she was an active member who dedicated her life to serving on numerous committees within the church. God filled her up with faith and love, and she shared it with everyone. Her pastimes were antiquing with Mary, following and attending Florida State Football games with her friends and she was not afraid to vocalize her strong dislike for the Florida Gators. Later in life, Toollie found a new passion, painting, specifically watercolor. This led her to become an instrumental figure within The Artists Guild of Northwest Florida as a founding member. She helped lead the exhibits held at Chipola College to display the Guild’s art to the community, earning strong respect from her peers. Toollie was smart, talented, genuine, and selfless to a fault. She was a dear friend to many, a wonderful mom, a special grandmother, and a soon-to-be great-grandmother to Maxwell “Wells” James Elkins, arriving in August. She was a fabulous wife to Jimmy, her partner in good deeds and good times for 66 years. We were all blessed to have her in our lives, You are all a part of her story.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James “Jim” Harkins; her parents, James and Laura. P. Streetman; her sister, Zade Guy; her brother, Bubba Streetman; her half-brothers, J.P. Streetman, Harold Streetman, Radier Streetman; and her special nephew, Jamie Streetman.

Toollie is survived by her son, James Harkins, Jr. of Marianna, FL; daughter, Mary (Victor) Gavalas of Tallahassee, FL; son, Allen (Jennifer) Harkins of Marianna, FL; and special nephew, Michael Dewey of Montana, special niece Laura (Myron) Johnson of Headland, AL. She is also survived by six grandchildren: James Harkins III of Hawthorne, FL, Jaime (Blake) Elkins of Charlotte, NC, Bailey (Stephen) Bolt of Tallahassee, FL, Nicholas Gavalas of Tallahassee, FL, Mary Beth Harkins of Nashville, TN, and Lauren Harkins of Marianna, FL.

Funeral services will be 11 AM, Friday, June 13, 2025, at First United Methodist Church of Marianna with Dr. Nathan Attwood officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Methodist Cemetery with James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel Directing.

Visitation will take place one hour prior in the Wesley Center at First United Methodist Church of Marianna.

Flowers are accepted or donations to Habitat for Humanity, 4736 US-90, Marianna, FL 32446, or the First United Methodist Church of Marianna, 2901 Caledonia St, Marianna, FL 32446, in her memory.