Page 31 - Florida Sentinel 3-29-19

Funerals
RAY WILLIAMS
DEACON LEROY SHEPPARD, SR.
Deacon Leroy Sheppard, Sr., of Thonotosassa passed away, Monday, March 25, 2019. Funeral services will be conducted Friday, March 29, at 10 a.m., at College Hill Church of God in Christ, 6414 North 30th Street, with Super- intendant Charles Davis, Pas- tor, officiating. Interment will follow at 1 p.m., in Florida Na- tional Cemetery, 6502 SW 102nd Avenue, Bushnell, FL 33513.
Deacon Leroy Sheppard was a native of Tampa and was educated in the public schools of Hillsborough County gradu- ating from Middleton Senior High School, class of 1953.
He enlisted into the United States Army in 1958 and hon- orably served his country until 1966. In his career, he was em- ployed by Tampa Wholesale Lighting Fixtures and Supply, Graybar Electrical Supply, and retired April 2000 from Para- dyne Networks, Largo, FL.
Deacon Sheppard was a de- voted member of College Hill Church of God In Christ, where he proudly served as a Deacon since 1999 and faith- fully served as the Ward Leader of Ward #7.
He was united in marriage to Dorothy Lucille McCray Sheppard in January 1961 until she was called home the morning of September 25, 2012.
He was preceded in death by: his parents Elizabeth Austin Sheppard and Charlie Sheppard; wife, Dorothy Lu- cille McCray Sheppard; daugh- ter, Sharon Denise Gardner; and brother, Elbert Lee Shep- pard.
He leaves to cherish his loving memory: 2 sons, Leroy Sheppard, Jr., of Orlando, FL and Michael Anthony Shep- pard, of Tampa, FL; 3 daugh- ters, Carolyn Joan Nicholson (Hilton), of Shreveport, LA, Stephanie Yvonne Sheppard, of Tampa, FL and Sylvia Lu- cille Goodwin, of San Antonio, TX; a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren; sis- ter, Dorothy Elizabeth Shep- pard, of Tampa, FL; extended family members, Amy Wallace and Matthew Young; and a host of other relatives and friends.
The remains will repose from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, March 28, at Ray Williams Fu- neral Home, 301 N. Howard Ave., and the family will re- ceive friends from 6-7 p.m.
*Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MS. JALYN IMANI STALLWORTH
Ms. Jalyn Imani Stallworth, of Odessa, FL passed away on Saturday, March 23, 2019, at the age of 23. A Celebration of her Life will be conducted Saturday, March 30 at 11 a.m., at Beulah Baptist Institutional Church, 1006 W. Cypress Street, with The Reverend Ron Rawls, of Gainesville, FL, officiating. In- terment will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery.
Jalyn was a native of Tampa, FL who was educated in the pub- lic schools of Hillsborough County. She graduated with high honors from the Hillsborough High School International Bac- calaureate Program.
Jalyn furthered her educa- tion and was a graduate with honors from the University of Florida, in 2018, with a major in African American History and minors in Art History and An- thropology.
She was nearing the end of her first year of the Art History Master’s Degree Program at American University, in Wash- ington, D. C.
Jalyn was a very active mem- ber of the University of Florida, Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is already greatly missed.
Jalyn leaves to cherish her memory: her loving and devoted parents, Drs. Dexter and Sophia Stallworth; brother, Dexter, II; and sister, Sydney; grandpar- ents, James and Everlena Collins, of Tallahassee, FL and Vivian Stallworth, of Tallahas- see, FL; uncle, James DeShawn Collins and wife, Karen, of Talla- hassee, FL; aunt, Toi Tindall, of Tallahassee, FL; cousins Liam, Sielle, and Johannah, all of Tal- lahassee, FL; and a host of other sorrowing relatives and friends.
The visitation for Ms. Jalyn Imani Stallworth will be held in her honor Friday, March 29 at 5 p.m. and the family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MRS. ELDORA S. THOMAS
Mrs. Eldora S. Thomas, of Tampa, passed away Tuesday, March 19, 2019. Funeral serv- ices will be conducted Saturday, March 30 at 11 a.m. at New Tes- tament Worship Center, 5107 E. 32nd Avenue, with Dr. Deborah Comellas, Pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Ceme- tery.
Mrs. Eldora S. Thomas, af- fectionately known as “Sister Dora, Grandma, Mom and Aun- tie” was a native of Clayton, Al- abama, and a resident of Tampa for 77 years. She was a member of New Testament Worship Center for over 40 years and served faithfully as a Usher and with the Youth Ministry.
She loved the Lord and her church family. Whatever she found to do, she did it faithfully unto the Lord.
She was employed as a Re- Order Associate at the Army/Air Force Exchange Serv- ice for 28 years at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, FL.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, Walter Levi and Merthy “Minnie” Starks; brothers, Henry Morris, David Green, Sam Starks, Rovell Starks, Almos Starks and Matthew W. Starks; and sisters, Merthy “Kate” Fair, Willie Mae Thompson and Jewell Inez Mikell.
She leaves to cherish her memory: devoted husband of 39 years, Johnnie W. Thomas; two sons, Ronald “Ronnie” Baker and Tommy Baker, Jr.; granddaughters, Rolanda S. Baker and Jodi M. Mock; grandson, Tommy R. Baker, III., all of Tampa, FL; a host of great grandchildren, great, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.
The visitation for Mrs. El- dora S. Thomas will be held Fri- day, March 29 at 5 p.m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MR. MATTHEW WALTER STARKS
Mr. Matthew Walter Starks, of Tampa, passed away Sunday, March 24, 2019. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, March 30 at 11 a.m. at New Testa- ment Worship Center, 5107 E. 32nd Avenue, with Dr. Deborah Comellas, Pastor, officiating. In- terment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery.
Matthew Walter Starks, af- fectionately known as “Mac” was a strong family man, provider, confidant, comedian, storyteller, and the last of the Starks’ family elders.
He was the youngest male of Walter Levi and Minnie Starks’ nine children. Mr. Starks was born in Clayton, Alabama, and after relocating to Port Tampa with his family as a child, the city became his home and where he built a life.
Mac loved Port Tampa. It is where he met the love of his life, Lillie Mae, and raised their son, Patrick. Fiercely protective and always willing to lend a hand, family was the most important thing to Mr. Starks.
A provider, Mr. Starks worked hard his entire life. As a child, he worked his family’s land and tended the animals. As an adult, he served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War. In the 1990s, he retired from his job as a long- shoreman foreman at the Pate Stevedoring Company. Matthew was a lifetime member of the In- ternational Longshoremen’s As- sociation.
Mac was preceded in death by: his beloved wife, Lillie Mae Starks; brothers, Henry Morris, David Green, Samuel Starks, Rovell Starks, and Almos Starks; and sisters, Merthy Kate Fair, Willie Mae Thompson, Jewell Inez Mikell, and Eldora Thomas.
Matthew leaves a host of fam- ily with many laughs and fond memories: son, Patrick Starks; brother-in-law, Johnnie W. Thomas; sister-in-law, Bernice Starks; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Mr. Starks respected the power of God and believed love never fails.
The visitation for Mr. Matthew Starks will be held Fri- day, March 29 at 5 p.m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MS. JANICE WILLINGHAM
Ms. Janice Willingham, of Tampa passed away Tuesday, March 19, 2019 surrounded by loved ones. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, March 30 at 11 a.m. at Life In Christ Community Church, 9706 N. 26th Street, with Pastor Arthur Randall, officiating. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memo- rial Park Cemetery.
Janice was a native of Tampa, Florida. She was edu- cated in the public schools of Hillsborough County and was a graduate of Leto High School, Class of 1979.
Janice furthered her educa- tion at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, FL. She was a “frugal fashionista,” who knew how to look good on a budget. Always one with keen intelli- gence and a quick wit, she was sure to make you laugh.
Prior to her illness, Janice enjoyed dining out, going to the movies and socializing with fam- ily and close friends. Janice pos- sessed a quiet loving spirit and was dedicated to her sisters, nieces, and nephew.
For more than twenty years, Janice worked for the Florida Sentinel Bulletin. She also worked as an Administrative As- sistant in Atlanta, GA. and St. Louis, MO.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, Betty Willing- ham and Claude Williams; grandparents, Jack and Ira Will- ingham; brother, Michael Will- ingham; and nephew, Dante Harvey.
She leaves to cherish her memories: two sisters, Rosalyn and Rhonda Willingham; uncle, William Willingham; aunt, Idella Willingham; nieces, Antrissia Donaldson and Brit- tani Johnson; nephew, Chris- tian Knight; great nephew, Josiah Johnson; great niece, Ari Knight; cousins, Milton Willing- ham (Pearl), Jeffrey Willingham (Lisa), Roosevelt Willingham, Pamela Willingham, Greg Will- ingham (Darby), Sheila Gadson (Steve), Angela Fredrick (Tom), Sumter, SC., Craig and Steven Willingham, Laurelton, NY, Eu- nice White (Ricky), Ann Foster, Clayton, Charles and Milton Foster, Ulysses Hudge (Joyce), Johnnie Mae, Dwan and Dwight Franklin, Tiffany Harris (Adrian), Daytra Franklin, Tamitra Gordon, Julie Daniels (Bradford), and Anthony Gorham; a loving and devoted friend, Ernest Clarke, St. Louis, MO; and a host of other cousins and friends.
The visitation for Ms. Janice Willingham will be held Friday, March 29 at 5 p.m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
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