Page 30 - Florida Sentinel 9-6-19

Funerals
AIKENS
MRS. PAULETTE WASHINGTON
A Homegoing Celebration for Mrs. Paulette Washington of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on Tuesday, August 27, 2019, will be held Saturday, September 7th, 10 a. m. at First Baptist Church of College Hill, 3838 N. 29th Street, Pastor S. Evan Burrows, officiat- ing. The interment will be held in Orange Hill Cemetery.
Paulette was born July 23, 1954 in New York, New York, to the late Ernest Sease and Emily Coleman. She attended First Bap- tist Church of College Hill. She en- joyed sewing, reading and serving the Lord and her community.
She was preceded in death by: her husband, Raymond Washing- ton; brother, Frank Gadsden; and sister, Adele Robinson.
She leaves to cherish her pre- cious memories with: her chil- dren, Shenell Maye (Jonathan), Raquel Majeski (John) and Nickie Mann (Terry); goddaughter, Kia Flowers; more than a niece, Tracy King-Johnson; grandchildren, Thaddeuss, Raven, Jaelyn, Thai- lyn, Lauryn, Wade and Torri; brother, Raymond Gadsden (Wil- lene); sisters, Beverly Griffin and Rachel Gadsden; friend, Ann Bell; a host of other relatives and friends that will miss her.
The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Friday, September 6th from 5 to 7 p. m. The family will receive friends from 5 to 6 p. m.
The family and friends are asked to meet at the church on Saturday for the service.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
MRS. ELDIS MARIE GIBSON MITCHELL
A Homegoing Celebration for Mrs. Eldis Marie Gibson Mitchell of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on Thursday, August 29, 2019, will be held on Saturday, September 7th at 2 p. m., at New Mt. Zion M. B. Church, 2511 E. Columbus Drive, Pastor Larry Roundtree, II; Elder Benji S. McMiller, M.Div., General Secre- tary of National Primitive Baptist, pastor of Nazareth Primitive Bap- tist Church of Charlotte, North Carolina, officiating. The inter- ment will be in Rest Haven Memo- rial Park Cemetery.
Eldis was born in Greenwood, Florida to the late John D. Gibson, Sr. and Eldis White-Gibson on May 17, 1935. She was a longtime member of Mt. Moriah P. B. Church, where she served on the Nurses’ Aide Board, Youth Board, Pastor’s Aide Board and a mem- ber of the Number 3 Choir.
She leaves to cherish her fond and loving memories with her children, Derek Walden (Brenda), Bridgette Darlene Davis (Gerald), and Lisa Mitchell; grandchildren, Rhonda Brown, Rochelle Jones, Derek Walden, II (Yani), Devin Walden and Emanie Mitchell; great- grandchildren, Malik Jones, Mayani Donaldson, Zher- ica Davis, Amari Robinson, Ah’Ryana Robinson and Derek Walden, III; great, great-grand- children, J’KahiEman Hines and Tiana Jones; nieces, Patricia Weatherspoon (Andrew) and sons, Alvin and Anthony Hayes and family, Erma Jean Gibson and sons, Cheyeava and Sterling Gibson; nephew, David Gibson, Jr. (Annette) and sons, Tre and Kyle Gibson, Jerry and Johnathan White and family of Dayton, Ohio; cousins, Ira Mae Ellison and fam- ily, Pastor Samuel Hayes (Vera), Mary Alice Worlds (J. R.), Stephanie Worlds and family, Reginol Worlds and family, Mary Gibson of Greenwood, Florida and family and William Gibson of St. Petersburg, Florida; special friends, Barbara Johnson and family, Mother Betty Brown and family, Martha Thompson and family, Crystel Sampson, Clifford Brown, Sr., Kenneth Niles; and a host of other relatives and close friends.
The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Friday, September 6th, from 5 to 7 p. m. The family will receive friends from6to7p.m.
The family and friends are asked to meet at the church on Saturday for the service.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
RAY WILLIAMS
DR. MINNIE MEDESTA MAJOR
Dr. Minnie Medesta Major, age 72, passed away peacefully August 23, 2019, in the warm embrace of God, her children, grandchildren, other family, church members and friends, who prayed and sang spiri- tual songs that she loved.
Homegoing Celebration will be held Saturday, September 7th at 2 p. m. at Idlewild Baptist Church, 18333 Exciting Idlewild Boulevard, Lutz, FL, with Pastor Ken Whitten and Pastor Chip Luter, officiating. In- terment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park.
Minnie was a native of Tampa, Florida, born to Benjamin and Hallique Major. She is a grand- daughter of the late G. D. and Min- nie L. Rogers (iconic business founders of Central Life Insurance Company, the Rogers Hotel on Cen- tral Avenue, Bonnet Lake, Rogers Funeral Homes, Dolphin Motel in Jekyell Island, GA, and philanthro- pists for whom the historic Rogers Park, in Tampa, FL, is named).
She attended local public schools and was a proud graduate of George S. Middleton High School, in Tampa, FL (class of 1964). Minnie later married Starlon Washington and they were blessed to be the par- ents of five children: Kenny, Jason and Kristin; sons, Jerome and Justin passed in their youth. In her recent memoir, Minnie is quoted as stating, “On July 29, 1979, a life al- tering event greatly impacted my life and the life of my family. I was in my last month of pregnancy with my son, Justin Ethan, whose name I had asked the Lord to guide me to select. His name means the fair strong hearted one. Justin was born with a heart issue that only allowed him to remain on this earth for three days.” This event sparked her curiosity to learn why his death oc- curred and became the driving force for her to learn more and become the best nurse she could become.
Minnie accepted and devoted her life to Christ as her savior at the age of 20. She served as a pastor’s wife and pianist at Community Bible Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, MI until the mid 1980s.
She was a voracious reader who believed there was no end to knowl- edge. She went on to attain an Asso- ciate’s degree in Registered Nursing, a Bachelor of Management and Marketing degree, a Master of Business Administration degree and, at 64 years of age, her doctor- ate (Ph.D.) in Nursing presenting her dissertation, “Understanding Why Nurses Leave Their Job in the Hospital Setting: A Mixed Methods Study In Voluntary Turnover.” Her
career included holding positions in the healthcare industry as a Case Manager and Clinical Operations Analyst for GENEX Services and Humana Insurance; Supervisor for Coventry Health Care (First Health), Health Integrated, Kemper National Services and ResCare Home Health; Director of Nursing for Integrated Claim Strategies; Di- rector of Professional Development for Infusion Therapies; Staff Nurse for Neo-Natal Intensive Care, Blod- gett Hospital; High Risk Obstetrics, St. Joseph’s Hospital; Progressive and Critical Care, Tampa General Hospital, (Concentrating on direct care to the spinal cord injured, closed head injured and cerebral vascular accident population). She was a Certified Case Manager (CCM), Certified Psychiatric & Men- tal Health Nurse and affiliated with the American Nurses Association and Project Management Institute.
Minnie loved playing the piano, painting, traveling on cruises, singing and eating Caribbean food. She enjoyed collecting gi- raffes and Minnie Mouse items. She loved her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and family and was always taking pictures on her phone or tablet to record the mo- ment.
She was instrumental in plan- ning many of the Rogers/Thomp- son/Dabney Family reunions to preserve the history and legacy of the “Family.” Among her many at- tributes, as many family members and friends can attest, Minnie will forever be known for being one of the most prolific communicators using social media (Facebook, text messages, etc.) of all time.
Her final church home was Idlewild Baptist Church/Idlewild at The Springs in the Tampa area. She served on the Adopt-A-Block Min- istry, Prayer Warriors Moms of Mi- nors, Shepherd’s Ministry and choir, and was a beloved mem- ber. She also raised three God-fear- ing children and her life was a living example of her favorite Bible verse, Psalm 122:6 – “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; May those who love you be secure.” She also was doing a study of the Book of Revelation at the time of her transition.
Minnie is preceded in death by: her father, Benjamin; and mother, Hallique; sons, Justin Ethan and Jerome Victor; brother, Tony Major; and sister, Gloria Major.
She is survived by: her former spouse, Starlon Washington; her three children, Ken Washington (Hickory Creek, TX), spouse, Stephanie, children, Isaac and Isa- iah; David Jason Washington (Tem- ple Terrace, FL), spouse, Shanada, children, Tylisha, Jaalyn, David, Jr., Sade and Caleb; and Kristin Joy and her children, Adrian, Damari and William (Zephyrhills, FL); great grandchildren, Indie, Genevieve (Gigi), Luna and Amaya; sister, Jacquelin Major; brother, James Ransom, spouse, Jan, children, Alena and Marcus (Tampa, FL); sis- ter-in-law, Betty Major, children, Munatsi and Farai (Orlando, FL); and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.
The Visitation will be held Fri- day, September 6th at 5 p. m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue, and the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p. m. in the Chapel.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MR. SAMMY L. MANN
Mr. Sammy L. Mann of Tampa, passed away Monday, Au- gust 26, 2019. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, Sep- tember 7th at 11 a. m., at The Cen- ter For Manifestation, 3102 E. Lake Avenue, Apostle Mark Jones, Pastor, with Reverend Charlie A. D. Sampson, officiating. Inter- ment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Sammy L. Mann was a na- tive of Americus, Georgia and a resident of Tampa for over 60 years. He attended the public schools of Americus, GA. Mr. Mann retired as an underground Pipe Layer from Henkels & McCoy Construction Company.
He was preceded in death by: his parents, Jimmy C. Mann, Sr., and Opal J. Smith Mann; brothers, Sylvester Mann, Jimmy Mann, Jr., Willie Mann and Freddy Mann; grandmothers, Sallie Mann and Mamie Lumpkin; and friend, Shirley Little.
He leaves to cherish his mem- ory: two sisters, Mary Mann and Georgia Mann; two brothers, Earl Mann (Renee) and Lonnie Mann; daughter, Monique Little; two sons, Phalen Little (Dion) and Lorenzo Little; special grandson, Reggie Black; four granddaugh- ters; and a host of great- grand- children; special friends, Emma Fraizer, Amandy Moore, Vanessa, Ola, Jerri, Fred, Debra, James, Dennis, Smilley, Gil, Drop, Coop, Ernestine, Barron, Page, and the 15th Street Crew; special cousins, Barthell, Harris, Linsley, Maddox, Manners, Water, Foster, Lusance, Adam, Woods, Black, Jackson, Howard, Howell and the entire Mann families; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
The remains will repose after 5 p. m. Friday, September 6th at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Own- ers.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 19-A