By Spessard Stone
Edna Pearce Lockett, daughter and granddaughter of pioneer Fort Basinger settlers, was renowned for her agricultural stewardship and service to her community and state.
Edna Mae Pearce was born October 19, 1908 at Fort Basinger, Florida and reared on the Pearce Homestead near the Kissimmee River. She was the daughter of William Sidney Pearce and Meroba Virginia (Hollingsworth) Pearce and the granddaughter of Capt. John Mizell Pearce & Martha Ann (Lanier) Pearce and Jacob Simeon & Virginia (Hagan) Hollingsworth.Edna graduated from Florida Southern College. In 1945 she was a recipient of its "Service to Mankind Honor Award." She served as president of its alumni association and on the board of trustees. In 1980 she was named honorary chancellor.
Using the P4 brand used by her father, she continued the family cattle business and occupied the house overlooking the Kissimmee River, which her grandmother had built. Edna served as an officer of the Highlands County Cattleman's Association and Florida Cattleman's Association.
In 1948, Edna, a Democrat, was elected to represent Highlands County in the Florida House of Representatives. She was only the third woman to serve in the House. Her legislative achievements included the paving of U.S. 98 from Fort Basinger to Sebring, the accurate labeling of Florida beef, and a law which allowed women to serve on juries, but only at their request. She was unsuccessful, however, with a bill abolishing discriminatory wage rates based on sex. She was re-elected in 1950 and 1952 and retired after her marriage in 1953 to English wool importer William James Lockett, who was born September 3, 1906.
Active in civic activities, she was a founding member of the Highlands General Hospital and served on the board for the Youth Care Home in Highlands County. Honors included the Distinguished Public Service Citation from the University of Tampa and a resolution for distinguished service from the Florida Legislature.
William James Lockett died March 15, 1977. Edna Pearce Lockett died on May 17, 1991. They are buried in Sebring Cemetery.
References: Kyle S. VanLandingham, Pioneer Families of the Kissimmee River Valley,1976, pages 26-28; "Pearce" in undated and unnamed newspaper; Leland Hawes, "Women faced obstacles to legislative involvement, The Tampa Tribune, January 17, 1988; Audrey Vickers, "Pearce Homestead is official title," Highlands Today, November 24, 1999, page 9.
Photo, courtesy of Kyle VanLandingham, October 9, 2001.
This profile is adapted from the author’s Heritage of Edna Pearce Lockett, 1999.
See also:
I Knew Edna Pearce When She Was A Girl In Pigtails
February 13, October 9, 200, March 17, 2004