Family and friends gathered on February 5, 2026, for a Celebration of Life in San Francisco, California, honoring the life and legacy of Academy Award-winning actor Claude Jarman, Jr. Claude, best known for his role as Jody Baxter in The Yearling, passed away on January 12, 2025.

Donna Green-Townsend, Vice President of the Friends group, was invited to speak at the service. Drawing on her decades-long career as a journalist and her recent work producing a documentary on The Yearling, Donna shared reflections on both Claude’s career and his personal character.

The Yearling, based on Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, tells the story of a young boy growing up in the rural “Big Scrub” of Florida’s Ocala National Forest. Claude Jarman was selected for the lead role at just ten years old, chosen from more than 19,000 applicants. His performance earned him an Academy Award and helped bring Rawlings’s story to life for generations of audiences.

Donna recounted how a series of remarkable connections—what she described as “providence”—led to her collaboration with co-producer Kathlyne Walkup Sheppard on a documentary about the making of the film. Their work brought them into contact with Claude and his wife, Katie, leading to interviews, archival research, and ultimately the production of From Novel to Movie: The Yearling in Florida. The documentary has since aired on PBS stations in 42 states and remains available on PBS.org.

In 2021, Donna conducted an in-depth Zoom interview with Claude, followed by an in-person interview during a special visit to Florida marking the 75th anniversary of the film’s premiere. During that trip, Claude and Katie visited the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, boated down the Silver River, and connected with park staff and visitors, further strengthening ties to the place that shaped the story.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Donna highlighted Claude’s humility and kindness. She shared a touching story about Claude sending a birthday card to his stand-in, Bobby Randall, less than a year before his passing—an act that meant a great deal to Bobby during his final days.

More than 80 years after its release, The Yearling continues to resonate with audiences. Claude’s portrayal of Jody Baxter remains a central reason why the story endures, capturing the emotional depth and humanity at the heart of Rawlings’s work.

The Friends of the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Farm is proud to have been represented at this meaningful event and to continue sharing the legacy of both Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and Claude Jarman, Jr.