Page 39 - Florida Sentinel 1-18-19

Funerals
RAY WILLIAMS
MR. CURTIS O’NEAL DEXTER
Mr. Curtis O’Neal Dexter, age 83, went quietly to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 13, 2019. Funeral Services will be conducted Saturday, January 19, at 11 a. m. at Tyer Temple United Methodist Church, 3305 N. 15th Street, Reverend Doug Walker, Pastor, with Reverend Valerie H. Goddard, officiating, and Reverend Ronald C. Hub- bard, eulogist. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park.
Curtis, son of Reverend Qvod Dexter, Sr. and Elvida Norris was born in Tampa, Florida and raised as a member of First Baptist Church of Key- stone. After graduation from high school, he furthered his ed- ucation at Tuskegee University, studying Chemistry. In 1965, he married the love of his life, Ar- lear Gipson, and the two would rear one daughter, LaToya Chantay Dexter.
Curtis is survived by: his wife of over 53 years, Arlear Dexter; his daughter, Drs. La- Toya (Lonnie) Bryant; two grandchildren, Summer Madi- son and Lonnie Alexander Bryant; god-family, Arthur (Donna) Russell; goddaughter, Sinclair Russell; and granddog, Charming.
He is also survived by: his brothers, Arnold Dexter and Qvod (Pauline) Dexter; two sis- ters-in-law, Betty Stubbs and Margaret Towns; nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of family and friends.
The visitation will be held on Friday, January 18, at 5 p. m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue, and the wake service where the family will receive friends will be held from 7:30 p. m. to 8:30 p. m.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MR. JOHNNY RAY FORD
Mr. Johnny Ray Ford of Tampa passed away Thursday, January 10, 2019. Funeral services will be conducted Sat- urday, January 19, at 11 a. m. at Ray Williams Memorial Chapel, 301 N. Howard Av- enue, with Apostle James H. Howell, Pastor of Cathedral of Faith Church, Inc., officiating.
Mr. Johnny Ray Ford was a native of Lake Placid, FL and a resident of Tampa, Florida for the majority of his life. He graduated from Tampa Bay Technical High School, Tampa, where he earned his certificate to become a Certified Automo- tive Mechanic.
He leaves to cherish his memory: his beloved wife of 32 years, Aline Ford; his daughter, Chastity Simmons; his step- son, Gary Burnett; 7 grandchil- dren, Shaquille Williams and wife, (Jazmine) of Fort Hood, TX, Connell Waldron, Dionte Waldron, Sakai Waldron, Dillen Waldron, Kierria Bailey, and Kiya Burnett; 2 great- grandchildren, Enoch Suggs of Tampa, FL and Isaiah Williams of Fort Hood, TX; brother, Wallace Diggs, Jr. and wife (Tichnia), of Riverview, FL; uncle, Benjamin Hamilton of Syracuse, NY; 2 aunts, Cather- ine Young of Tampa, and Clau- dia Mae Davis of Miami, FL; his step-mother, Dorothy Hayes; step-brother, Marlon Hayes; step-sister, Francine Hayes; 6 nephews, Gary Ford or Tampa, FL, Terrance Ford and wife (Carolyn), of Odessa, FL, Tony Ford, Jr. of Tampa, Eric Ford of Tampa, Casey Diggs of Riverview, FL, and Andre Diggs of Riverview, FL; 6 nieces, Camille and husband, Shombie of Jonesboro, GA, Dyshaka Perry and husband (Reymone), of Jonesboro, GA, Frelita Parker and husband (Jameen), of McDonough, GA, Ashley Ford of Tampa, Brandy Ford of Tampa, and Gracie Broaders- Diggs of Riverview, FL; 2 sis- tesr-in-law, Carolyn Ford of Tampa, and Geraldine Ford, Tampa; his mother-in-law, Alice Harbour of Memphis, TN; his wife’s siblings, Bertha Bur- nett, Catherine Iwaisi, and Essie Burnett and their fami- lies; and a host of many cousins, friends, and family.
The remains will repose after 5 p. m. Friday, January 18 at Ray Williams Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p. m.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MS. ERNESTINE GRIFFIN LARRY
On Friday, morning, Janu- ary 11, 2019, Ms. Ernestine Grif- fin Larry departed this life at 11:54 a. m., in the presence of her loving family. Funeral serv- ices will be conducted Saturday, January 19, at 11 a. m. at New First Union Missionary Baptist Church, 3707 E. Chelsea Street, with Pastor B. E. Garmon, offi- ciating. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery.
Anyone who knew Ernestine G. Larry knew she had a beauti- ful smile and that she loved her children and loved her church family. She also enjoyed cele- brating birthday, anniversary, etc., with everyone she knew by sending a card or giving a spe- cial handmade token to show her genuine loved.
Born in Statesboro, GA, to the late James Griffin, Sr. and Jannie (Williams) Griffin, she was a graduate of Middleton High School in Tampa, and con- tinued her education at Hills- borough Community College, graduating with an AA degree in Liberal Arts. She also worked for the City of Tampa where she retired.
She is survived by: 4 daugh- ters, Pamela Johnson, Mar- garetAnn Standberry, Vernadine and husband, Michael Addison, and Wanza and husband, Moses Knott; 2 sons, Dwight Mosley, and Artis Larry, all of Tampa; 7 grand- children, Michael Addison and wife, Donna, Marcus Addison, Colletta Stokeling, Artis Larry, Jr., Dnartrae Williams, Miracle Johnson, and Jernisa Johnson; 1 great-grand, Chase Knott; 1 sister, Hazel Griffin of Tampa; 5 brothers, James Griffin, Jr. and wife, Eula of Augusta, GA, O. S. Griffin of Washington, D. C., Leon Griffin of Tampa, and the late Nathaniel Griffin and the late Joe Andrew Griffin; 1 sister-in-law, Mrs. Tommie Herndon and husband, Rev. John Herndon of Huntsville, Alabama; very special nieces, Tanga and husband, Bobbie Fitts, Aranius and husband, Stan Wilson; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins and other relatives and friends. We would also like to acknowl- edge other family and friends, Yvette Stuckey, Michelle Jenk- ins, Yvette Ferlita, Cindy and husband, Henry Lee Stand- berry, Aunt Marie and hus- band, Earl Mosley, Deacon Tom Marshall and our First Union Church Family.
The remains will repose after 5 p. m. Friday, January 18 at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners
MS. MARY LOUISE MITCHELL
Ms. Mary Louise Mitchell of St. Petersburg, FL passed away Sunday, January 13, 2019. Fu- neral services will be conducted Saturday, January 19 at 11 a. m. at Northside Missionary Baptist Church, Reverend Ricardo Robinson, Pastor, with Minister John Threes, officiating. Inter- ment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery.
Ms. Mary Louise Mitchell was a native and lifelong resi- dent of Tampa Bay, Florida for 85 years.
She was preceded in death by: her son, Leroy Mitchell; daughter, Bridgette Annette Hicks; grandson, Vernell Mitchell; her brothers, Leroy, Willie, John Henry, and Joseph Mitchell; and her sister, Josephine Morris.
She leaves to cherish her memory: her children, Wendell Mitchell (LaQuinta), Gloria Blount (Deneen), Larry Mitchell, Casey Mitchell (Greta), Pamela Hicks, and Eu- gene Hicks; her grandchildren, Valarie Mitchell, Wendell Mitchell, Jr., Aliesia Mitchell, Nicole Collins, Debra Collins, Eureka Jones, Nicci Bennett, Anitra Carter, Antonio Mitchell, Carlos Morgan, Terrica Thomas, Jermail Norwood, Charlie English, Salathiel Hicks, Christopher Presley, Darius Smith, Quantiara Hicks, Eugene Hicks, III, and Annette Hicks; her brother, Frank Mitchell (Loretta); and sister, Shirley Battle; 37 great-grand- children; 13 great-great grand- children; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends – not to exclude anyone.
The remains will repose after 5 p. m. Friday, January 18 at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MS. MELANIE NELSON
Ms. Melanie Nelson of Wimauma, Florida, passed away on Saturday, January 12, 2019. Funeral Services will be conducted Saturday, Janu- ary19,at2:30p.m.atMt.Mo- riah Missionary Baptist Church, located at 5909 Vel Street in Wimauma, Florida, with Reverend Darrell Jones, officiating. Interment will fol- low in Wimauma Community Cemetery.
Ms. Nelson was a lifelong native and resident of Wimauma. She attended East Bay High School and was cur- rently employed as a baker at the Texas Roadhouse Restau- rant.
Ms. Melanie was preceded in death by: her brother, Riley Nelson.
She leaves to cherish her memory: her beautiful daugh- ter, Chandra Redfield; her loving and devoted mother, Geneva Nelson; father, Raleigh Nelson, Jr.; siblings, Randall Nelson (Denise), Sh- eryl McKinnie (Earlee), Rod- erick Nelson (Michelle), Keith Nelson, Kimberly Nelson, Cordell Nelson, and Kenerick Nelson (Darlene). She also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and special friends.
The remains will repose after 5 p. m. Friday, January 18, at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 North Howard Av- enue.
Arrangement entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
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