Page 33 - Florida Sentinel 4-9-21

Funerals
AIKENS
MR. EDWIN JEROME GAY, SR.
A Homegoing Celebration for Mr. Edwin Jerome Gay, Sr., who passed away on Thursday, March 25, 2021, will be held on Saturday, April 10th, 1:00 p.m. at Aikens Funeral Home, 2708 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Elder Sammie Lee Gay, officiat- ing. The interment will be held in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery.
Edwin Jerome Gay, Sr., was born March 6, 1951. Edwin worked for several companies, Kimmins Construction and Live Nation and also was an orange picker, where he later worked for Old 97 Company and retired and loved the Hard Rock Café.
He was preceded in death by: his parents, Johnny Gay, Sr., and Bennie Lee Hines and nephew, Travis.
He leaves to cherish his pre- cious memories with: his loving wife, Deborah Henry Gay; chil- dren, Edwin Jerome Gay, Jr., Kimberly Evette Murray (Andre) and Zana Gay; stepchildren, Camilla, Vernon, Herman, Jer- maine and Grover; grandchil- dren, Craneica, Edwin, Cornelius, Jaurean, Robernisha, Edwineisha, Shaquesta, Debra, De’Andre, Felicia, Jakayla, An- tonesha, Ashley, Zaniyah, Abry- onna and Demetrius; 17 step-grandchildren; 27 great, grandchildren; 1 step-great grandchild; brothers, Johnny, Jr., David, Terry, Jerry and Mar- vin; sisters, Vivian, Marva, Teresa (Kenny) and caregiver, Ellen; 2 aunts; 1 uncle; 10 nieces; 17 nephews; brothers-in-law, Grover and Chris; sisters-in-law, Evelyn (Bernard), Mary (Eddie), Nancey (Ricky) and Marilyn; a host of other relatives, friends and cousins.
The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Friday, April 9th from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. The family and friends are asked to meet at the chapel on Satur- day for the service. We are fol- lowing the CDC guidelines.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
MRS. MARTHA GOMEZ BACON
A Homegoing Celebration for Mrs. Martha “Mikisi” Gomez Bacon, age 85, of Tampa, Florida, was granted her angel wings on Friday, April 2, 2021, with her family by her side. Services will be held Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at Aikens Funeral Home, 2708 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd., Deacon Paul Haber, officiating. The interment will be held at Myrtle Hill Ceme- tery.
Martha Gomez Bacon was born, January 26, 1936, to Charles and Louisa Gomez in a small neighborhood in Tampa, Florida called, Ybor City.
She attended St. Peter Claver Catholic School and graduated from Middleton Senior High School. She was a lifetime mem- ber of the Sociedad La Union Marti Maceo.
Martha married John Bacon and had 4 children. She was a full- time homemaker for many years before becoming a Library Aide for Hillsborough County. After re- tiring from Hillsborough County, Martha worked with the Hillsbor- ough County Schools HOST Pro- gram for 14 years at Lomax Elementary. Martha lived a full life. She had an outgoing person- ality, loved to laugh and was hap- piest when surrounded by her family. She was a dedicated mother and grandmother to her own and served as a surrogate mother to many others.
She had a generous spirit and was known to feed and house those in need. Martha was known as a good cook and always the cen- ter of every party as she controlled the dance floor with her salsa moves. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, Charles and Louisa Gomez, brother, Charles Gomez and sister, Gloria Gonzalez.
She is survived by: her brother, William Puerto, his wife, Shirley; children, Orlando Bacon, Yolanda Bacon, Denise Bacon White, her husband Andre, Charles Bacon, his wife, Melissa; grandchildren, Rolanda Johnson, her husband, Larrell, Orlando “O.J.” Bacon, Elisa White, Shelita Bacon, Alexandria White, Troy Bacon, Charles E. Bacon, Trey Bacon, Lauren White, Tye Bacon; great, grandchildren, Larraiah Johnson, Liahna Johnson, Yanna Cusseaux, Amaya Bacon, Liam Johnson and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Wednes- day, April 07, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The family and friends are asked to meet at the Chapel for the services on Wednesday. We are following the CDC guidelines.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
MRS. JOYCE
BERRYHILL HENDERSON
Mrs. Joyce Berryhill Hender- son, 83, of Tampa passed on March 24, 2021, following a re- cent illness. Service will be held Thursday, April 08, 2021, 1:00 p.m. at Progress Village Seventh- Day Adventist Church, 7909 Flower Ave, Tampa, FL 33619, Pastor Byron Wells, officiating. The interment will be held in Rest Haven Cemetery.
Mrs. Joyce Berryhill Hender- son was born on April 8, 1937, in Leslie, GA she spent her forma- tive years there and attended Sumter County public schools.
She moved to Tampa with her two children in 1954, where she met her future husband, Harold Henderson. This union welcomed six children. Joyce dabbled at sev- eral jobs, but the one she cher- ished most was that of mother. Joyce and Harold joined the Mount Calvary Seventh – Day Ad- ventist Church following an evan- gelistic effort in the late 50s. Later the Hendersons would transfer their membership to the Progress Village Seventh – Day Adventist Church. Throughout her membership in the church, Joyce was a steadfast member demonstrating her faith in pro- fession, deeds and actions. She held many offices throughout her tenure as a member including, Treasury Department, Sabbath School Teacher, Deaconess, Usher, Choir Member, Hostess and Nominating Committee, Community Service and working with Pathfinders.
Whether providing meals to the homeless, offering counsel to those going through a rough patch, coordinating donations for the holiday season or working as a Foster Grandparent, she always looked for a way to help others, especially single parents and chil- dren.
She enjoyed traveling, gar- dening, watching westerns (espe- cially Gunsmoke), family, reading the Bible, gospel music, bird- watching and following her fa- vorite team, the Dallas Cowboys.
Over the years there have been joys and challenges. The loss of her sight slowed her down a bit, but she was still active and en- gaged in encouraging and helping others. She fulfilled so many roles for those around her – Mother, Mama, Grandmother, Nana, Sister, Aunt, Confidant, Prayer Warrior, mother–in–law,
sister–in–law, Voice of Reason, Friend, Counselor, etc... a multi- faceted gem forged in faith.
Although we will miss her greatly, the life she lived gives us all pause to know the power of abiding faith and kindness to oth- ers.
Joyce was preceded in death by: her husband of 51 years, Harold Henderson; her parents, Eddie and Johnnie Mae Berryhill; brothers, W. Frank and Eddie Will Berryhill; son, David C. Hen- derson and granddaughters, Kimberly Rose and Sydney Hen- derson.
She is survived by: her chil- dren: W. Joyce Clayton, Paul James, Harold L., Michael A. (Chantal), Jeffery G., Anthony “Randy” (Desirée) Henderson and Sharon Henderson – McNab (Daniel); brother; grandchildren, Monica N. Barksdale (Deon); Ke- muel (Sommer), Hannah N., Kendall E., Sophia R., and Kaden A. Henderson; great grandchil- dren, JaKimmie and Deon Barks- dale, Jr.; Keyarra, Keyilah, Keyuloni, Kemuel L. and Kemuel J. Henderson; great, great grand- children, Mia Sherman and Angel Jones. Brother, Eddie Berryhill (Edna); uncle, Marcellus Henry (Dora); sisters, Janelle Bobbitt and Roslyn Gadson (Floyd); nieces, Linda Everett, CaSonya Berryhill and Tomeka Sutton (Craig); nephews, Eddie and Eddie James Berryhill, Jr., and Vincent Kearse (Lakeisha); cousins, Henrietta Walker (James), Mary Sims (Vernon), Linda Bell (Arthur) and Lisa Johnson.
Other relatives and special friends; a host of family members including, grandnieces, grand- nephews and cousins; The Hen- derson Family (Havana, FL and around the world); The Member- ship and Friends of Progress Vil- lage Seventh Day Adventist Church; Elder and Mrs. Larry Johnson; The Lassiters; The Mar- tins; Kay Spain; Kenneth Cook; The Richeys; Carole Harvell; The Riveras; The Monroes; The Bryn- ers; Honorable Ronald Ficar- rotta; The Hills, Christene Rollins and Willow Robinson; Elaine Walker; Tampa Electric Com- pany; Quest Diagnostics; Hills- borough Community College Health Sciences Division; and Ad- vent Health Tampa Education De- partment.
A special thank you to the staff of St. Joseph’s MICU and Seasons Hospice for their care and kindness shown to Mrs. Hen- derson and the family.
Viewing is at Aikens Funeral Home 2708 E. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Tampa, FL 33610 on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tampa, FL 33619.
In honoring the memory of Joyce’s love of flowers we ask that if you are attending either service you refrain from wearing black ... if you do, please add a colorful flower as you know she would do!
We are following the CDC guidelines.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
MRS. BARBARA S. BELCHER JONES
A Homegoing Celebration for Mrs. Barbara S. Belcher Jones of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, will be held on Saturday, April 10th, 10:00 a.m., at Garden of Memories, 4207 E. Lake Ave., Elder James C. Nel- son, pastor of House of God Mir- acle Temple, officiating. The interment will follow.
Mrs. Barbara S. Belcher Jones was born May 25, 1941, in Donalsonville, Georgia. She loved looking after others, dis- tributing food from the food bank, gardening, and sewing, making handkerchiefs for the church. She was a longtime member of the House of God Miracle Temple in Frostproof, Florida.
She brought joy and laughter whenever she entered the room. She was a Prayer Warrior and loved all those she knew.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, Preston and Dora Lee Belcher; brothers, Eddy, Clyde, Eugene, Cornelius, Avant, Jose, and James; sisters, Vinny and Alice Belcher and nephew, Melvin Belcher.
She leaves to cherish her precious memories: her chil- dren, Wilton Tommy Jones, Jr., (Dr. Kimberly Jones), Michael Anthony Jones (Shadi Jones) and Brian Jones (Michelle Jones); grandchildren, Thomas Jerard Jones, Kai Halina Jones- Chambers (Renaldo), Jenea, Olivia, Dezmond and Maurice Jones; great grandchild, Noah Myles Chambers; sister, Tessie Dunn; nieces, Angela, Avis and Antonia Atkinson; nephews, Trent, Billy and Jose Belcher; ex-husband, Wilton T. Jones, Sr.; lifelong friends, the Burns family: Regina, Mandy, Jeremy and Reggie, Will and Estella Johnson, Kathy Johnson, Thomas and Yvonne Aikens, Sh- eryl Smalls, Althea Wynn, Carrie Williams and Jedrick and Mar- jorie Battle; and her church fam- ily and neighbors.
There will be a closed casket visitation at Aikens Funeral Home Friday, April 9th from 4pm to 7 p.m.
The family and friends are asked to meet at the graveside for the service on Saturday.
We are following the CDC guidelines.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
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