Renia Catherine Poe Bayer � Sheffield of Fernandina Beach passed away on Sunday afternoon, September 25, 2016.

Born in Jacksonville, FL on September 20, 1939 she was delivered by her Daddy and joined her 4 brothers Alfred, Dean, Leslie and Bill Poe and 2 sisters Gladys and Peggy Poe.
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Renia had a memorable and wonderful childhood and met her best friend, Majol Camplejohn in the first grade at Norwood Elementary School and remained best friends over the next 72 years.

She graduated from Andrew Jackson in 1957 and attended Blue Mountain College for Women, Blue Mountain, MS and Jacksonville University.

In 1959, Renia met her future husband, Alvin Bayer III, whom she would marry in 1961. Renia�s husband, Alvin graduated from Emory University School of Dentistry in 1962 and they served 2 years with the Navy in Beeville, Texas, where a son Michael Alvin Bayer was born in 1963.

In 1964, Renia and her family moved to Fernandina Beach where her husband Alvin opened his dental practice and became the third dentist in Nassau County. Upon settling in Fernandina Beach, she and her husband met and established a special, life-long friendship with Joyce and Tommy Shave as well as Marjanne and Smiley Lee.

In 1965, a daughter, Allison Marie was born, and in 1971, a daughter, Renia Catherine (Cathy) was born.

Renia became a member of St. Peter�s Episcopal Church in 1964 and became very active in the community. She was member and President of Humphreys Memorial Hospital Volunteers where she and friend Wini Smith organized the hospital�s gift shop �Pink Treasure Chest� with the proceeds to help the Hospital. Renia was a founding member and President of the Amelia Island Fine Arts Association and a member and twice president of the Magnolia Garden Club. She was appointed as a Director of the Chamber of Commerce for 4 years and was a team mother for the Pop Warner Association�s football and cheerleading members.

She was a member of the Terpsichorean Dance Club and Bridge Club with her dearest friends for 40 years. Special to her heart were: Mary Braddock, Jane Bray, Chris Bryan, Diane Cobb, Karen Healan, Lynn Hicks, Marcy Mock, Gail Shave, Lou Simmons, Pam Simmons, Jean Walker, and Kathy Wandmacher.

In 1971 Renia was honored by being listed in a book �Outstanding Young Women of America�.

In 1980 she obtained a Real Estate license and joined Fernandina Beach Reality. In 1985, Renia was honored with �Realtor of the Year� and in 1987 became President of the Nassau County Association of Realtors. Renia obtained her Certified Site agent and sold new home construction in Nassau, Duval, Clay and St. Johns counties from 1989-2005.

In 2006, Renia married William F. Sheffield. She mourned his passing in 2009.

She is predeceased by her father, Alfred Lee Poe Sr., her mother, Gladys Viola Criswell Poe, 3 brothers � Hardy Dean Poe (Virginia), Leslie Newton Poe (Vera), Alfred Lee Poe Jr. (Dot), a sister Peggy Lou Poe Ruiz and two nephews, Leslie William Poe and Harry Bailey.

Renia is survived by a brother, Wilfred Rabon Poe (Mollye), a sister, Gladys Viola Poe (Bill), her greatest blessings: a son, Michael Bayer, two daughters, Allison Marie Bayer Turner (Aundre) and Renia Catherine (Cathy) Bayer Dozier. She is also survived by her joy and great blessings: three grandchildren, twins; Lorne Augustus and Catherine Annalee Turner and Rylie Marie Dozier as well as her best friend of 72 years, Majol Camplejohn Miller (Gordon).

She was also an aunt, great aunt and great, great aunt to a multitude of nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Friday, September 30, 2016 at St. Peter�s Episcopal Church with The Reverend Rector Stephen Mazingo, officiating.
Mrs. Sheffield will be laid to rest in St. Peter�s Cemetery.
A luncheon will follow in Burn�s Hall of St. Peter�s Church.
Her family will receive friends on Thursday from 5:00 � 7:00 pm at Oxley-Heard.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are encouraged to be made to Saint Jude Children�s Hospital or St. Peter�s Episcopal Church.
Please share her Life Legacy and leave your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com