Emerson Duvall of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida died peacefully at his home Tuesday, February 17, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Emerson, also known as Buddy, was born in Washington, DC on April 15, 1937. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Judith Mary Reid (“Judy”). He is survived by his four children, Michael Anthony (Mary Rose), Suzanne Duvall, Michelle Vendemia (Christopher) and Christini Bradley (James); along with his nine grandchildren, Tony Bozzi (Vera), Michael Duvall, Vinnie Vendemia (Kasey), Lindsay Nolan Buhr (Chris), Camille Vendemia (Ian Sweet), Jesse Duvall, James Duvall, Precious Ruth Duvall, and Princess Elizabeth Duvall; and his three great grandchildren, Alex Bozzi, Liam Bozzi, and Elsie Sweet.
Buddy was a pillar of the community most recently serving as a greeter and volunteer for the Council on Aging at the Players Senior Center in Palm Valley. Buddy held many occupations beginning with his time where he proudly served in the US Army during the Korean War reconstruction phase. He also worked as an electrical sign engineer for Jack Stone Signs of Landover, MD where he was a proud IBEW Member Local 26. He also served as a correctional officer for the Washington, DC prison system in the early 1960’s. Buddy and Judy moved from Accokeek, MD to Florida in 1989, where he continued his career as an electrical sign engineer. He then held various other jobs in the area including working at the Sawgrass Marriott, Enterprise Car Rental, and Ace Hardware.
Just as they could not be separated in life, we plan to celebrate the lives of Buddy and Judy Duvall and the love they shared for each other at the Players Community Senior Center in Palm Valley Florida on Monday, April 13th at noon. Donations can be made in their honor to the Bird Island Park playground upgrade at www.sjcpf.org. The Bird Island Park was a favorite local spot for Buddy and Judy, which they visited often. There is even a bench honoring Judy’s life in the park.
“Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us. We need hours of aimless wandering or spates of time sitting on park benches, observing the mysterious world of ants and the canopy of treetops”. - Maya Angelou
