Tiffany Ann Merlo Phelps, Beloved Mother, Daughter, and Friend.
Tiffany Ann Merlo Phelps passed away on January 1, 2025, in Palm Valley, FL, at the age of 51. Born in Jacksonville, FL on April 5, 1973, to Thomas and Korlis Merlo. Tiffany was a devoted mother, loving daughter and cherished member of the community.
Tiffany attended St. Paul's schools in Jacksonville Beach and graduated from Bishop Kenny High School in 1991. She studied English and Communications at Flagler College and received her Master of Arts from University of North Florida. Tiffany utilized her communication skills and love for community as a reporter for the Nassau County Record, and later for The St. Augustine Record. She then served as the Director of Public Relations at St. Johns River Community College from 2003 to 2007 where she was responsible for managing the college's public image and communication through media relations, internal communications, marketing and promotion and community engagement. There she met her future husband Jan-Hein Phelps. They married on November 19, 2005. They began a beautiful life together and had two amazing children, Eva and Thomas Phelps. In 2014, they returned to the special property she had grown up on and built a home next to her parents.
In 2019, Tiffany channeled her gift for storytelling as a freelance writer at Ponte Vedra News Line, reaching 150,000 readers across Northeast Florida. Her regular monthly features kept her readers informed and engaged through in-depth insights into community events, programs and organizations, and her "Get To Know" series provided heartfelt profiles of various community members and fostered a sense of connection and unity.
In addition to her professional successes, Tiffany was a dedicated community advocate. As an Advisory Board Member at the Brown Family YMCA, she passionately supported the Y's mission and programs, actively promoted its initiatives within the community, and played a key role in the annual campaign efforts. In 2023, she helped her son Thomas found the Palm Valley Trading Company, with the mission of representing the people of Palm Valley through signature clothing and collectibles to preserve the area's natural and historical elements for future generations to come.
More than anything else, Tiffany's greatest passion was her family. She loved above all things her children. She celebrated every milestone, and made sure they had everything they could need. She loved volunteering at Eva and Thomas' activities and championed their interests. She was also very devoted to her parents, always celebrating every moment and bringing amazing treats to make everyone feel important. She had a special way with people, made friends easily and always knew who to call no matter the subject.
Of all her accomplishments, Tiffany was most proud of being a "Stay at home Mom."
Tiffany will be remembered for her unbelievable kindness, her ability to make everyone around her feel special, her unwavering commitment to making a difference, and her love for celebrating holidays, especially birthdays.
Tiffany is survived by her husband, Jan-Hein; her children, Thomas and Eva; her parents, Thomas and Korlis, and her brother, Michael.
A Funeral Mass to celebrate Tiffany's life will be held at Our Lady Star of the Sea, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, on Monday, January 13 at 2:00 PM. A private burial will be held at Ponte Vedra Valley Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to Bit of Faith Ranch, located in Ponte Vedra, providing horseback riding and recreational events for those impacted by autism. www.bitoffaithranch.org or by mail:
Bit Of Faith Ranch
PO Box 230
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32004
