Welcome to the Josephine Maultsby Hutchinson Scholarship Award

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Josephine Maultsby Hutchinson was born December 13, 1942 in Lake Alfred, Florida to the late Fred and Josephine Maultsby. She was a 1960 graduate of Jewett High School. 

As a lifelong member of the Church of God by Faith, which was only a few doors down from her family home, she relished trips to the Ocala Temple for national church conventions. There she met the love of her life and husband of 52 years, Deacon Redell Hutchinson. After joining hands in matrimony, Redell and Josephine moved into their first home in Gainesville. From their union, four sons were born: Ron Redell (Ernestine), Darren Lenard, both of Gainesville, Frederic Gerard (Adriane) of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, and Joseph Christopher (Reagan) of Gainesville. Also, she was the adoptive mother of Sean Michael of Gainesville. 

Josephine had a deep commitment to education. Although she interrupted her schooling to begin her family, she later decided to continue her education by enrolling in Santa Fe College. Initially she studied health sciences, including nursing and dental assisting, but eventually changed her major to early childhood education. After earning an associate degree, she transferred to the University of Florida where she earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Education. 

Upon graduation, she began her career as an elementary educator in the Alachua County Public Schools. During her 25-year career, she also worked as a Home-School Liaison. She was a popular and beloved educator known for integrating arts and crafts into her classroom curriculum and organizing field trips to Camp Crystal, Old Town Saint Augustine, the State Capitol, and Washington, DC. She and her family raised money so financially needy students were not left out. In addition, she encouraged academic excellence among her sons who are all graduates of Eastside High School. Following in her footsteps, two sons became educators after earning degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown University, Yale University, and The University of Chicago. 

Josephine was known as a fierce advocate for social justice and a champion for the poor and elderly. She often selflessly engaged in charitable activities and was a friend to many impoverished and elderly community members in Gainesville. She freely gave her time, talents, and resources without ever seeking recognition for her efforts. Her life of servitude truly exemplifies Matthew 6:1, which commands us to “take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them, otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.” 

While caring for the needs of others, Josephine loved and cared for both her biological and church families. She was a devoted wife, a protective mother who demanded discipline and excellence from her sons, and a cherished member of the Gainesville Church of God by Faith. Josephine served as a Deaconess for many years, but she was well known and treasured in the local, district, and national church for her culinary expertise. 

God called Josephine home, from labor to rest, on Friday, July 6, 2018. A humble and loyal servant of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Josephine’s caring and generous spirit is missed greatly by her husband Redell and their sons Ron, Darren, Frederic, Joseph, and Sean, as well as her surviving siblings Albertus Maultsby and Erma Jean Mahoney both of Lake Alfred, Florida and Calvin Maultsby of Lawton Oklahoma