Page 36 - Florida Sentinel 12-18-20

Funerals
MS. THEORA ‘THEOLA’ LESTER
Ms. Theora “Theola” Lester, (the twin of Leora “Leola” Lester Hepburn, a longtime resident of West Tampa, who preceded her in death,), of Tampa passed away Monday, December 14, 2020. Fu- neral services will be conducted Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. at Mount Pleasant Mis- sionary Baptist Church, 2002 N. Rome Avenue, with Reverend Dr. C. T. Kirkland, Pastor, officiating. In- terment will be held immediately following the service at Rest Haven Memorial Cemetery, Tampa, Florida. Please follow the CDC guidelines. Masks are required.
Ms. Theora Lester was a native of Jacksonville, Florida, moved to Pompano Beach, then to Tampa after the death of her parents.
She was educated by the Public Schools of Duval, Broward and Hillsborough Counties. She was reared by her mother’s sister, Ms. Ocie McGhee, of Tampa.
Upon completing high school in Tampa, Theora departed for New York City to seek a career and a life outside of Florida, and that she did.
She was accomplished in her profession. She traveled every sum- mer and either initiated or con- cluded her summer vacations in Florida with her twin sister “Leola” and her brother-in-law Howard Hepburn and their children in Tampa.
Ms. Lester worshipped in New York with her brother, Isaac R. Lester, Jr., and became a member of Mt. Pleasant M. B. Church, where she joined and worshipped for the past 18 years. While her niece Car- olyn Hepburn Collins was President of the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP, she was a member of the branch and joined the Branch’s committee WIN with the Chairman, Tanya Johnson.
Her favorite activities were working in the yard and hitting her golf balls on the side of the house with a less than preferred frequency - a trip at the Putt Putt Golf Course.
Several years ago when Moder- ator, Rev. Dr. C. T. Kirkland had a Golf Tournament for the church state’s association for student schol- arships, she registered and walked a little of the course before she climbed up on the cart to ride back to the Club House.
When she is seen on the patio porch, with her head seriously in a book, she was challenging herself with one of her many types of word puzzle books.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, Isaac R. Lester, Sr., and Beatrice; twin sister and brother-in- law Howard and Leora Hepburn, sister, Lillian Ellington and brother, Isaac R. Lester, Jr, and spouse Juanita Lester; step-brothers, Charles Ellington, Nathaniel Barnes (Shirley) of LA and Velma Barnes of Miami; first and oldest niece, Katherine Beatrice Hepburn and
nephew, Mark Christopher Hep- burn; in-laws, Leroy, Henry, Harold, Harry and Samuel Hep- burn, Margie Williams (Leroy Sr.), Martha Cail (Frank Sr.), and Camille Hepburn Williams (Henry).
She leaves to cherish her mem- ory: her loving step brother, Julius Ellington (Fannie) of GA; sisters-in- law, Enez Lester, of NY, Emma Ellington of Pompano Beach, Mary Hepburn and Margaret Hepburn of SC; nieces and nephews, Dr. Car- olyn Leora Hepburn Collins (Nor- ris), Malcolm Anthony Hepburn (Angel) of NC, Debra Theora Hep- burn Taylor Bailey (late Albert), Matthew Darryl Hepburn (Carolyn) all of Tampa; Terry Lester of NY and Mel Lester (Janet) of NY, and Sarah Hepburn; grand nephews and nieces, Norris Howard Collins, Jr., (Esperanza) of Tallahassee, Katherine Hepburn of TX, Michelle Walker (Tyrone) of Tampa, Dr. Corey Orel Collins (Dr. Gwenesia), of Boynton Beach, Jermaine Xavier Taylor (Amber), of SC, Tamara Danika Taylor Jefferson, Matthew Darryl Hepburn, Jr., (Tereka), Mark Hepburn, Jr., Emmanuel Amon Hepburn, Darryl Hepburn, Ashley, Marjorie, Gloria, Amad Hepburn, Malcolm A. Hepburn, II, Jason Hepburn, Sir Michael An- thony Hepburn Russell, Shon- danette Hepburn, Yashica Hepburn Roseboro, Tylesha Evans Hepburn, all of Tampa; great grand nephews and nieces, Loren and Layla Lester, of NY, Norris Howard Collins, III, and Isaiah Orel Collins, of Tallahas- see, Turham Dijon Johnson, Jr., and Quinton Jefferson, Jaleel Evans Hepburn, of Tampa, Luke Em- manuel and Leah Christina Collins, both of Boynton Beach; a host of cousins, Barbara Geiger and family, Roderick Cannon, Sarah Whitting- ton and family, and other close rel- atives and friends, to include, the Hepburns, Collins, Petersons, Lesters, Holloways, Spanishs, Geigers, Jeffersons, Cails, Nelsons, Taylors, Gollmans, Huggins, Enig- boka, Russells, Rhodes, Williams, Burtons, Fishers, Allens, Kirklands, Baileys, Whittingtons, Ellingtons, Coffees, Gathers, Johnsons, Han- cocks, Josephs, Jones, Rushings, and members of Mt. Pleasant M. B. Church, where she was fondly known as “Twin.”
For more than 60 years, Theora Lester resided, had a career and re- tired in New York City. After retire- ment, death of a dear friend, Lillian DeSuze, and the catastrophic im- pact of 9-1-1, Theora decided to re- turn back to her home state of Florida and her last hometown of Tampa.
Theora was fondly referred to in New York as “DeeDee” and will be missed by friends, some of whom departed from New York and trans- planted themselves to Sarasota, PA, IN and other states and cities.
Some of those beloved friends are Carmen Barrett, Morris, Margo Lance, Ruth Gaza, Joyce, Barbara, Elaine Williams and countless other.
The remains will repose Mon- day, December 21 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue. Compliance to the CDC guidelines, wearing mask, so- cial distancing and hand washing are required for viewing and the church services.
In lieu of flowers, please con- tribute financial donations in Ms. Theora Lester’s honor to Mt. Pleas- ant M. B. Church Education Min- istry and Scholarship or to Tampa Chapter FAMU National Alumni As- sociation Scholarship Fund. Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MRS. LUEVENIA GRIFFIN MITCHELL
Mrs. Luevenia Griffin Mitchell of Tampa, FL, passed away Wednesday, December 9, 2020. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, December 19, at 2 p.m., at Greater New Salem Primitive Baptist Church, 1605 N. Nebraska Avenue, with Elder Frank O. Gray, Sr., Pastor of Unity M. B. Church, officiating. Interment will follow in Serenity Meadows Memorial Park Cemetery. We are asking family and friends to follow the CDC guidelines. Masks are required.
There will be NO viewing fol- lowing the eulogy.
Mrs. Luevenia G. Mitchell was born to the late Mable T. McCray and the late Rev. Leroy Griffin. She was a lifelong resident of Tampa and graduated Class of 1952 from Middleton High School.
She served in U. S. Air Force during the Korean War. She fur- thered her education at Gibbs Jun- ior College and Hampton University.
She was a social worker with the Hillsborough County Depart- ment of Children Services. For most of her time with the County she was based at the Dorothy Thomas School in Lake Magdalene.
After retirement, she entered a new chapter as an entrepreneur operating D-Mitch’s Bridal Acces- sories & Hats, Inc. She was known by many for her beautiful cre- ations, designs, and floral arrange- ments.
She was a faithful member of New Salem M. B. Church. She was
involved with many organizations and clubs a few were: Clerks and Secretaries Organization, WAC Veterans Association Chapter 88, American Legion, Middleton High School “Class of 1952” Alumni Group and many others.
Along with her parents she is preceded in death by: her stepfa- ther, Horace McCray; her brother, Willard Hill; and her grand- mother, Rosa A. Chestine.
She is survived by: her 3 loving children, Valerie Mitchell, Frank Mitchell and Diann (Rickey, Sr.) McCoy; a sister, Bettye McCray; devoted cousin, Mary Hamilton; 10 grandchildren Eugene “Torrie” Brown, Ricka (Brandon) Mixon, Re’chard “Reed” McCoy, Whitney (McFarlen) Jean-Pierre, Terrene Mitchell, Regis Jones, Sr., Darius Mitchell, Riva (Chris, Sr.) McCoy- Gordon, Rickey McCoy, Jr., and Diana Reynolds; 31 great grand- children; 1 great, great, grand- child; nieces, Patricia Beachem, Tia King, Almeta Butler, Deborah Barr, Rosalyn Mitchell, Lisa Mitchell, Rose Taylor and Toy Smith; nephews, Joseph Hill and Kenneth (Jo Ann) Niles; special cousins, Sylvia Holmes, Gloria (Patrick) Ashley, Deloris Stennis, Gwen (Joe) Abrams, Deloris Thomas, Queen McCleary and Fadonia Webb; along with a host of many other loving and devoted cousins from the Allen, Butler, Canty, Chestine, Gomez, Hamil- ton, Hankerson, King, Masha, Mc- Clendon, McCray, Murray, Sheppard, Stewart, and Thomas families.
She will also be remembered by a host of loving in-laws, friends, former colleagues, students, club members and classmates, her New Salem M. B. Church family, her wonderful neighbors in Northview Hills and her devoted caregivers, Mildred Ellison, Latangela Vassel and Dimitrice St. Juste.
The visitation will be held from 3-7 p.m. Friday, December 18, at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606. We are asking family and friends to follow the CDC guide- lines. Masks are required. Arrangements entrusted to Ray Williams Funeral Home, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MR. ISAIAH SHEMAR WILLIAMS
Mr. Isaiah Shemar Williams, of St. Petersburg, Florida, passed away Monday, December 7, 2020. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, December 19 at 11:00 a.m. at First Prospect Missionary Baptist Church, 6012 Edina Street, Wimauma, with Minister Levern Stephens, officiating. Interment will follow in Wimauma Commu- nity Cemetery.
We are asking family and friends to follow the CDC guide- lines. Masks are required.
Mr. Isaiah Shemar Williams was a resident of St. Petersburg, Florida. He was educated in the public schools of Pinellas County and was a graduate of Florida School for the Deaf & Blind, St. Au- gustine, FL, Class of 2019.
Mr. Williams was a member of First Prospect Missionary Baptist Church.
He leaves to cherish his mem- ory: his mother, Delores Williams; four sisters, Casandra Williams, Taika Cox (Will), Sharon Johnson and Breona McClary; 9 aunts, Geraldine Stephens (Minister Lev- ern), Lurie D. Hubbard (Lynell), Ellis M. Griffin (Pastor Nathaniel), Dorothy Ann Harper, Dorothy Jean Owens (Willie Lee), Pearl E. Brit- ton, Fanita Hector, Irene Edwards and Lilla Davis-Mays; 12 uncles, Reverend Willie D. Edwards (Bet- tye), Eddie Edwards, Sylvester Williams (Brenda), Larry Higgins (Wanda), Harvey Lee (Cheryl), Clyde Higgins, Kenny Edwards, Robert E. Edwards, Cornelius Ed- wards, Van Edwards, Joe Davis, and Leroy Davis (Katherine); one great uncle, Clarence Williams; special aunt, Nikki Stephens; a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends; special family friends, Eu- gene McGrew- (Mentor & Constant Helper), Hazel Jackson, and Rudolph Walker (Felecia); special cousins, Jivontae Morgan, Keon Wilson, Brittney West, Jaedan West and Richard Terrell Stephens and Leveon Stephens, Jr.
The visitation will be held from 3-7 p.m. Friday, December 18, at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606.
We are asking family and friends to follow the CDC guide- lines. Masks are required. Arrangements entrusted to Ray Williams Funeral Home, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
RAY WILLIAMS
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