Page 49 - Florida Sentinel 7-10-20

Funerals/Memoriams
RAY WILLIAMS
MR. JOE LAFAYETTE STARKS
Mr. Joe Lafayette Starks of Tampa passed away Thursday, July 2, 2020.
Funeral services will be con- ducted Saturday, July 11 at 4 p. m. at Ray Williams Memorial Chapel, 301 N. Howard Avenue, with Pastor Leroy Vann, Sr., of- ficiating. Interment will be held Monday, July 13 at 11 a. m. at the Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Avenue, Bushnell, Florida, 33513. We are asking family and friends to follow the CDC guidelines.
Mr. Joe Lafayette Starks was a native of Lebanon, Tennessee, born to Horace Robinson Starks and Frankie Ruthland Starks. Mr. Starks attended Wilson County High School in Lebanon, TN, and graduated in 1956. Joe was the second oldest out of 4 siblings. Joe enlisted into the United States Air Force in 1959, where he served as a Senior Master Sergeant and retired after 30 years of service in 1989.
Joe Starks fought in the Viet- nam War also known as the Sec- ond Indochina War, as an aircraft pilot. During his time in the military while stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, Joe played basketball for their Air Force League. Also, while his time at MacDill, he met the “Love of His Life,” Jessie M. Starks. They were married in May 1964, and enjoyed 56 won- derful years together filled with joys and memories until his de- mise.
After his retirement from the military he became a long-dis- tance truck driver for a company called “Trucking for Jesus,” out of Palm Harbor, FL for 2 years. Thereafter for 3 years, he drove for a local tour bus company out of Tampa, FL. One of Joe’s most exciting memories while driving tour busses, was when he trans- ported the Tampa Bay Bucca- neers Professional Football
ing her activist husband in his so- cial justice work. She loved flower gardening, traveling, being a fash- ion trend-setter, receiving expres- sions of love from her family, giving to anyone in need, and spending time with her family.
Mrs. Stoney-Williams’ legacy of helping those in need is now left to her husband, the Rev. Frank Williams. Their 60 years of mar- riage is a testament to the re- silience of love. Her legacy of wise counsel is left to her children to pass on to their children and oth- ers. Her loving and supportive family will miss her earthly pres- ence as they celebrate her eternal presence with the LORD.
A mother of 10, Betty leaves behind seven loving and devoted children: four sons, Gary R. (Diane) Valdez of Tampa, FL, Trenton E. (Loretta) Lewis of Co- lumbia, SC, Shawn R. (Shirley) Williams of Hephzibah, GA, and Frank L. (Aundrekia) Williams of Tampa, FL; three daughters, Can- nella A. (Eric) Jefferies of Talla- hassee, FL, Tanakia L. (John) Jenkins of Kathleen, GA, and Treemonisha S. Williams of Tampa, FL; a sole surviving sister, Willie Mae Stoney-Lacey of Tampa, FL; 17 grandsons, Shawn R. Williams of Hephzibah, GA, Cory Jones of Tampa, FL, Trenton E. Lewis, II, Andric K. Lewis, and Micah E. Lewis, all of Columbia, SC, John Jenkins, Jr., of Tampa, FL, Jon’shea Jenkins of Kathleen, GA, Edil Camacho, Jr. of Knoxville, TN, Fernando Lewis Morales Valentin of Long Beach, CA, Joshua Valdez, Geralaldito Valdez, Demeco L. Williams and DeAudrick L. Williams, all of Tampa, FL, Lakhai C. Johnson, L. C. Johnson, II, and Edward Desmore, of Ruskin, FL, and Malik A. Jefferies of Tallahassee, FL; 15 granddaughters, Lameka T. Lewis of Tampa, FL, Renilia L. (Lawrence) Johnson of Greens- boro, NC, Romekia V. Brewer of Tallahassee, FL, Gregorah C. Lewis of Tampa, FL, Antoinette J. Mutcherson of Atlanta, GA, Ebony C. Williams of Tallahassee, FL, Lexie Mutcherson, of Atlanta, GA, Charsie (Quinte) Johnson of Tal- lahassee, FL, La’Dreauna C. John- son of Atlanta, GA, Shanice L. Williams, of Hephzibah, GA, Damaris (Manuel) Medina of Val- rico, FL, Shemeka C. Williams of Hephzibah, GA, Malaika S. Jef- feries of Tallahassee, FL, Sarah Williams of Apollo Beach, FL, and Qysen Desmore of Ruskin, FL; as well as a host of other grieving rel- atives and friends.
The Visitation will be held Fri- day,July10,from3to7p.m.at Ray Williams Funeral Home. We are asking family and friends to follow the CDC guidelines.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Own- ers.
Team to and from the airport for their away games. Mr. Starks had the opportunity to speak with coaches such as Tony Dungy, in addition to a few star players of the team.
A few of Mr. Starks’ hobbies consist of watching Old Western Movies, National Geographic, Fishing Network, and his most fa- vorite, College and Professional Football. Joe would often travel to see some of the Historical Black College and University (HBCU) football games and enjoy watching the band perform at halftime.
Joe was an active member of High Desert Lodge 107, Shriners International Organization which is a Masonic society estab- lished in 1870 and is headquar- tered in Tampa, Florida.
On Thursday, July 2, 2020, Joe L. Starks was called home to be with the LORD at the age of 82 years. Joe Starks is reunited in Heaven with his parents, Horace Robinson Starks and Frankie Ruthland Starks; brother, Ho- race Edward Starks, all of Lebanon, TN.
His beautiful life will forever be cherished by: his loving wife, Jessie Starks; son, Reeche Starks (Patricia); granddaughter, Che’Nault Starks; grandsons, Marcus Leggett, Jr. and Gerald Clark, III; great-grandsons, Rha- land, XzayDhen, Zyaire, Gerald Clark, IV, and Amir Antonia Clark; great-granddaughters, So- raya Jay Clark, and D’Shari Leggett, all of Tampa, FL; brother, Earl Starks (Johnice) of Fayetteville, NC; sister, Frances Starks of Lebanon, TN; sister-in- law, Liona Coats of Tampa, FL; nieces, Erica Starke Knight, Tameika Starke Lawrence, Shar- lice Starke Powell, all of Fayet- teville, NC, Verna Martin (Patricia) of Atlanta, GA, Khadi- jah (Peaches) White of Greens- boro, NC, Lawanna P. James, Ondria Bryant (John), Penny White, and Sabrina Blatch (Todd), all of Tampa, FL; nephews, Thomas White of Greensboro, NC, Leroy Vann, Jr. (Shonda), Victor, Vincent, and Vernon White, Anthony Pressley Sr., and (late) Bernard McDuffie, all of Tampa, FL; goddaughter, Cora L. Rosson of Tampa, FL; niece-in-law, Sheila Pressley of Tampa, FL; and a host of grand- nieces, grand-nephews, cousins, and friends.
THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC VIEWING. The Family request that if you plan on attending the service, please wear a mask for the safety of yourself and others.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MRS. BETTY JOE STONEY-WILLIAMS
Mrs. Betty Joe Stoney- Williams of Tampa passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
Funeral services will be con- ducted Saturday, July 11th, at 2 p. m. at Ray Williams Memorial Chapel, 301 N. Howard Avenue, with Reverend Trenton E. Lewis officiating. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery. Please follow the CDC guidelines. Please visit www.ray- williamsfuneralhome.com ap- proximately 15 minutes prior to service time for the opportunity to view service via Live Stream- ing.
Mrs. Stoney-Williams was born 83 years ago to the union of William (Will) Stoney and Pearl Summers-Stoney. A native Tam- panian, Betty experienced her Christian conversion at an early age under the ministry of St. John M. B. Church. At the time of her death she was a member of the Paradise M. B. Church, where her husband, Reverend Frank Williams served as Pastor. Betty attended Hillsborough County’s Public Schools. She was employed for more than 20 years as a Cafe- teria Team member in the Hills- borough County Public School System until her retirement circa 1999. She treasured her ability to assist in ensuring, year after year, thousands of children received nutritious meals to enhance their mental and physical growth.
Mrs. Stoney-Williams was the First Lady and an ardent sup- porter of the ministry work at Par- adise Missionary Baptist. On June 30, 2020 she gained her wings after death brought healing to her body.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, Will and Pearl Stoney; five sisters, Lonesta Stoney, Catherine (Fat) Randolph, Rosa Lee Waterman, Lula Mae Stoney, and Pearlie Mae Stoney- Barnes; two sons, Gregory Adol- phus Lewis and Vander Bernardo Williams; one daughter, Vandella Nicole Williams-Johnson; and two grandsons, Nicholas Camacho, and Gregory Lewis.
An avid reader, Betty enjoyed her church work and accompany-
MRS. PATRICIA ELIZABETH WILSON
Mrs. Patricia Elizabeth Billups-Wilson of Tampa passed away Thursday, July 2, 2020.
A Graveside Service will be conducted Saturday, July 11th, at 3 p. m. at Garden of Memories Cemetery, 4207 E. Lake Avenue with Dr. Charles Patrick, offici- ating. Interment will follow. We are asking family and friends to follow the CDC guide- lines.
Mrs. Patricia Elizabeth Wil- son was a native and lifelong resident of Tampa, Florida. She was educated in the public schools of Hillsborough County and was a graduate of Howard W. Blake High School. Mrs. Wil- son was a member of New Salem Baptist Church and was em- ployed as a Housekeeper at Ha- bana HealthCare Center.
She was preceded in death by: parents, James Billups, Sr. and Louise Warren Billups; sib- lings; and her daughter, Vena Y. Billups-Richardson.
She leaves to cherish her memory: her children, Jean E. Wilson-Kennedy (Michael), Sharron D. Wilson (Kimron), Michael Wilson (Rena), Derrick J. Wilson, Jemario J. Williams (Keionya), and Herbert E. Williams, Jr., (Janay); her spe- cial close friend, Herbert E. Williams, Sr.; grandchildren, Yushica S. Richardson, Tijwana L. Conner, Kenneth J. Richard- son, MiKeishia Kennedy, Adrian L. Conner, Shantheia N. Conner, Tequilla Wilson-Thomas, Mikia Kennedy, Mikal Kennedy, Michael Kennedy, Jr., Derrick Wilson, Jr., TiAndra, Shandejha Morgan, Jemaria Williams, Ahzaria Williams, Kalani Williams, Michael McDaniels, Valencia Reynolds, Joshua Bell, Jimmy Hamilton, Mikael Wil- son, Michael Wilson, Jr., Tiani Wilson, Deontae Kelly and Wilaneisha Albury; siblings, Mable Billups, James Billups, Jr. (Cleo), Lewis Billups, Sr. (Waddie), John Billups and Homer Billups (Sarah); a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and other sorrowing relatives and friends.
The Visitation will be held Friday, July 10 from 3 to 7 p. m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue. We are asking family and friends to fol- low the CDC guidelines.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
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