By David Patterson
The Rev. Canon Dr. Allison DeFoor leaves a legacy rooted in faith, public service and a deep love for Florida.
Some lives are measured by the positions a person holds. Others are measured by the difference that person makes. The Rev. Canon Dr. Allison DeFoor built a life that reflected both, moving through the worlds of law, public service, ministry and environmental conservation with a commitment to leaving his community better than he found it.
DeFoor, a seventh-generation Floridian, served as president and CEO of the North Florida Land Trust, the Jacksonville-based nonprofit dedicated to protecting the region’s irreplaceable natural landscapes. His work was driven by a simple but urgent conviction: Florida’s natural heritage must be preserved for future generations.
His professional path was anything but ordinary. He served as a prosecutor, public defender, county and circuit judge, and elected sheriff of Monroe County. He also taught law at the University of Miami and held leadership positions in organizations working to strengthen Florida’s civic and environmental future.
In addition to his distinguished legal and public service career was another calling: ministry.
An ordained Episcopal priest, DeFoor served as Canon to the Ordinary to the Bishop of the Diocese of Florida. His ministry included serving congregations in four prisons near Tallahassee and working at Grace Mission, an inner-city ministry. His life brought together the principles of justice, compassion, faith and responsibility to others.
His influence extended across Florida’s conservation movement. He served as Florida’s Everglades policy coordinator under Gov. Jeb Bush and worked alongside former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham to advance the Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative, known as Amendment After moving to Jacksonville in 2015, DeFoor continued his public service through local nonprofit and civic organizations. As president of North Florida Land Trust, he championed the protection of natural spaces so future generations could experience the Florida he cherished.
In an era when success is often measured by personal achievement, DeFoor’s life offers a different measure: what we protect, whom we serve and what we leave behind.
His legacy proves that a life of purpose can take many forms and that faith, service and stewardship can become lasting gifts to a community.
