Love through service…

We found Jerry and Val Demings agree on most things, however, the first time they met is not one of them. Jerry says it happened when he was in college in the late 1970’s at Florida State University (she is also a Seminole). Conversely, Val remembers their first encounter happening during an investigation in 1984, her first year on the job. She also said she had no plans to date, much less marry, a police officer. They eventually did date, and were later married in 1988.

Regardless of their different recollections, Jerry says that a common passion to care for the community was what ultimately united them. Val and Jerry have spent most of their lives showing their love of our community in the way they serve and protect it. Jerry Demings is currently the Sheriff of Orange County and previously led as the Police Chief of Orlando Police Department (OPD) from 1998 until 2002. Val served as Chief of Police at OPD from 2007 until 2011 and was just recently sworn in as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Florida’s 10th congressional district.

Jerry and Val have been customers of In Bloom Florist since at least 2011. Jerry often comes in and picks up the custom floral designs he has selected for Val so he can personally deliver the flowers to her. John and I are so humbled that Sheriff Jerry Demings and Congresswoman Val Demings would take a moment to come into our flower shop and be part of our “Love is Love” campaign. They literally visited us between the Congresswoman’s Swearing-In Ceremony and an event immediately following our photo shoot.

When they dropped by to pose for the portrait, it was, quite honestly, a whirlwind of a visit. Every question we asked was briefly answered between camera flashes. As they were exiting, Jerry leaned in and said, “I have something for you. You need to know that we had twins born on Valentine’s Day!” He had a knowing gleam in his eye that illustrated his desire to serve our business- by giving us this sweet inside information. He didn’t share it because of In Bloom Florist — he shared it because we are a member of the Orlando community they love.

Jerry and Val have three children and five grandchildren who all live in Orlando so family life is a big focus for the couple. In addition to family, they are both avid bikers who love their Harley’s. To get away, they take to the back roads of Central Florida on motorcycle — together. Jerry perched on his Screaming Eagle and Val on her shiny red Road King Classic.

This strong couple will have been married for 28 years in March and when we asked Val to tell us in one word to define their love, she simply said, “Solid.” We couldn’t agree more.

Love is working together for the greater good…

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