Page 31 - Florida Sentinel 12-20-19

Funerals/Memoriam
AIKENS
MS. GWENDOLYN LOUISE ALLEN (‘SIS’)
A Homegoing Memorial Celebration for Ms. Gwen- dolyn Louise Allen, “Sis,” of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on Saturday, Decem- ber 14, 2019, will be held on Saturday, December 21st, 2 p. m. at Aikens Funeral Home Chapel, 2708 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Rev. Timothy Lan- caster, officiating. The inter- ment will follow.
Ms. Gwendolyn Louise Allen, “Sis,” was a native and lifelong resident of Tampa, Florida. She was educated in the Public Schools of Hills- borough County.
Gwendolyn was preceded in death by: her parents, Hosea and Elouise Allen; brothers, Hosea and Bernard Allen; sisters, Linda and Darlene Thomas.
She leaves to cherish her memories with: her chil- dren, Haltrent Allen (Bar- bara), JosephAllen and Michael Hamilton, Sr. (Tirhonda); a loving and de- voted sister, Sandra Allen and brother, Harold Williams; grandchildren, Antwan Allen, Trenisha Allen, Denard Allen, Jarrod Allen, Michelle Hamilton, Michael Hamilton, Jr. and Michael Hamilton, Jr.; a host of great grandchildren; nieces, Herbertha Williams, Denice Williams, Gloria Allen, Eve Allen-Henderson, Temisha LaShawn Lawson and sons Bryante’ and Mo- rocco, Tiffany Elouise Gor- don and daughter, Paris and La Tarra Thomas; nephews, Jimmy Allen, Bernard Allen, Harold Williams, Jr., Dar- rell Williams, Eric Allen and Lionel Thomas; sister-in- law, Dorothy Allen; and a host of other relatives and friends.
The family and friends are asked to meet at the chapel on Saturday for the service.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
PRESIDING ELDER JIMMY ROSS CALDWELL, SR.
A Homegoing Celebration for Presiding Elder Jimmy Ross Caldwell, Sr., “Jim,” of Wesley Chapel, who passed away, Tuesday, December 10, 2019, will be held, Saturday, December 21st, 11 a. m. at Mt. Sinai AME Zion Church, 2909 N. Nebraska Ave., Bishop Seth O. Lartey, of the Ala- bama/Florida Episcopal Dis- trict, eulogist, with Rev. Rochelle Pearson, Pastor and Presiding Elder of the Key West Florida District, offici- ating. The entombment will be held in the Garden Mau- soleum, Myrtle Hill Ceme- tery.
Jimmy Ross Caldwell, Sr. was born January 14, 1953 in New Albany, Mississippi, to the late Fred D. Caldwell, Sr. and Portia Magnolia Ruther- ford Caldwell. Rev. Caldwell initially attended Benjamin Ford High School, the sole African American high school in New Albany, Mississippi, where he excelled as a stu- dent. Following school deseg- regation in Union County, he was selected for the inaugural class of Black students to in- tegrate W. P. Daniel High School (now known as New Albany High School), also lo- cated in New Albany, Missis- sippi, where he continued his academic success.
Upon matriculation from W. P. Daniel High School, Rev. Caldwell enrolled into Mississippi Valley State Uni- versity, a Historically Black
University located in It- taBena, Mississippi. While in college, Rev. Caldwell worked for several government agen- cies through his participation as a member of the Missis- sippi Valley State University Cooperative Education Pro- gram. Rev. Caldwell was first assigned to work with the Na- tional Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), where he served as a flight co- ordinator for space shuttle missions. Following this as- signment, he began working as a bank examiner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
After graduating from Mississippi Valley State Uni- versity in 1976, with a Bache- lor’s Degree in Business and a minor in Finance, Rev. Cald- well continued his career with the Federal Deposit In- surance Corporation (FDIC) as a bank examiner in Jack- son, Mississippi. At the time of his hiring, he was the sec- ond African American ever selected for this position with the FDIC. He later earned a graduate degree from Ameri- can Banking Association, Stonier Graduate School of Banking, hosted by Rutgers University.
He was preceded in death by: his parents and brother, Reuben Caldwell.
He leaves to cherish his fond and loving memories with: his wife, Velvet Cald- well; children, Jimmy R. Caldwell, Jr., and Portia R. Caldwell; brother, Thomas Caldwell and sister, Annette Caldwell-Gray; and a host of other relatives, friends and church family who will miss him.
The visitation will be held at the church he pastored, Mt. Sinai AME Zion Church, 2909 N. Nebraska Ave., from 5 to 7 p. m. The family will greet friends and family during these hours.
The family and friends are asked to meet at the church on Saturday for the service.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
MRS. RUBY LEE COLLIER
A Homegoing Celebra- tion for Mrs. Ruby Lee Col- lier of Tampa, Florida who passed away on Tuesday, De- cember 16, 2019, will be held on Saturday, December 21st, 2 p. m., at Reborn Christian Fellowship Center, 3101 E. Lake Ave., Pastor John Jerelds, officiating. The in- terment will be in Orange Hill Cemetery.
Ruby was born February 26, 1931 in Cuthbert, Georgia to the late Fletcher and Emma (Johnson) Owens. Ruby relocated from Newark, New Jersey in 1973. She was employed with Burry Cookie Company. She then moved to Tampa, Florida, where she was em- ployed with Honeywell Elec- tronic Company as an assembler, until retire- ment.She was a member of Reborn Christian Fellowship Center and she was a gar- dener and loved flowers and working in her garden. Ruby and her late husband, James A. Collier were entrepre- neurs, owning a Commercial Cleaning Service.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James A. Collier; parents, Fletcher and Emma Johnson and stepmother, Mattie Sampson Owens; sisters, Emma Groomsand Annie B. Owens and brothers, Fletcher, Eugene and James Owens.
She leaves to cherish her memories, daughters, Cas- sandra Frazier, Alice Mallett and Elaine Pierson; grand- daughters, Ivie and Khari Frazier; sisters-in-law, Sylvia Owens and Nita and husband; nieces, W. Louise Holder (Bennie), Ruby Owens, Patricia Jones and Sandra Rockeymore (Henry); nephews, Anthony Owens (Jeanette), Carl Owens, Fletcher Owens and Arthur Grooms; and other loving family members.
The visitation will be held Saturday one hour prior to the service from 1:00 to 2 p. m. at the church.
The family and friends are asked to meet at the church for the service.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
MRS. HATTIE MAE STOKES
A Homegoing Celebra- tion for Mrs. Hattie Mae Stokes of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on Tues- day, December 10, 2019, will be held Saturday, De- cember 21st, 11 a. m., at Aikens Funeral Home, 2708 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Pastor Byron Pressley, officiating. The interment will be held in Orange Hill Cemetery.
Hattie Mae Stokes was born September 16, 1936, to the late Henry and Caroline Thomas. She attended the local schools of Hillsbor- ough County. Her first em- ployment was with James A. Haley Veterans Hospital. Hattie then married, Frank A. Stokes, Sr.
Later in life, she ob- tained her Home Health Certification at Leary Tech- nical Center, class of 1992. She was employed with Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services. Hattie enjoyed lis- tening to music, going to the flea market and spend- ing time with her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by: her parents; hus- band, Frank A. Stokes, Sr.; brothers, Henry, Marvin, Sr. and Fred, Sr. Thomas and Willie Thornton; sis- ters, Julia Peterson and Susie Smith.
She leaves to cherish his precious memories with: her 7 children, Bernard Russell, Frank, Jr., Rena Celerin (Chaptal), Caroline (Grover), Karl (Luvene), Kathy, Lisa Stokes-Reeves and Elaine Jackson (Robert); grandchildren, Darious, Nakesia, DeAn- dre,Sr., Johniece, Johnathan, Ashley, Caleb (Kristina), Frank III, LaChrisha, Joshua, Devin, Zaina, Cierra and Zoi; great-grandchildren, Erica, Ricardo, Charles, IV, Har- mony, Ashton, De’Andre, Jr., Chole, Isaiah, Hadas- sah, Hannah, Leah and Is- rael; special thanks to her grandsons, Darious and Devin.
The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Friday, December 20th from 5 to 7 p. m.; the family will receive friends during this time.
The family and friends are asked to meet at the chapel on Saturday for the service.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
MERRY CHRISTMAS
MARLO GIBSON
Merry Christmas, Sweetie. We love and miss you like crazy.
Love, Mom and family.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2019 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 19-A