Page 18 - Florida Sentinel 1-17-17 Edition

Local
Funeral
Popular Musician Dies Following Complications With Heart
RAY WILLIAMS
MRS. SHIRLEY TEMPLE COX
Mrs. Shirley Temple Cox of Tampa, passed away on this day, Sunday, January 8, 2017. Our devoted leader, servant, and friend passed from this timed existence into eternity to reside with our Heavenly Fa- ther.
Funeral services will be con- ducted Wednesday, January 18, at 11 a. m. at Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery, 4615 E. Hanna Avenue, Tampa, 33610. Interment will follow.
Mrs. Cox was a native of Tampa, and a resident of Tampa for most of her life. She attended Middleton High School and was a past member of First Baptist Church of West Tampa and Seniors in Service. She was previously employed as a crossing guard for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
She leaves to cherish her memory: Mr. Ed Cox; Ms. Betty M. Smith; Ms. Angela Keenan; Mr. Irie Yarde; Mrs. Dorothy Abreu; devoted friends, cherished cousins and a grateful community of others whose lives Mrs. Cox positively enhanced.
The remains will repose from 4 to 7 p. m. Tuesday, Jan- uary 17, at Ray Williams Fu- neral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue. Arrangements en- trusted to RAY WILLIAMS FU- NERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Fannie Harris Rodgers, a popular musi- cian who was also active in the community, died last Tuesday, January 10, 2017, following complications with her heart. She had been hos- pitalized about a week before passing. Mrs. Rodgers was 77 years old. She suffered a stroke on Valentine’s Day, 2016, that left her unable to speak, but did not hamper her will to continue worship and doing for others.
Mrs. Rodgers died 10 months after a sister, Mrs. Ann Harris Drayton and 2
FANNIE HARRIS RODGERS ...She celebrated her 77th birthday on Dec. 7th
years after her husband, Eli Rodgers.
Mrs. Rodgers was the pi- anist for numerous churches in the area, including New
Salem M. B. Church, St. James AME Church, Mt. Carmel M. B. Church and oth- ers. If she was at a program or worship service and no musi- cian was present, Mrs. Rodgers was there to serve.
The Tampa native gradu- ated from Howard W. Blake High School with the class of 1959. She studied at HCC and many other institutions.
In the community, she was active with her neighborhood association in Clair Mel-Palm River, member of Zeta Ami- cae for 35 years, and Blake Alumni association.
She worked 17 years as a paraprofessional for the Hillsborough County School
District and was named Teacher of the Year in 2004, the first African American fe- male to receive this award. For 5 years she traveled 50 miles roundtrip to work at Cypress Creek School.
Mrs. Rodgers is survived by 7 children (Jeffery, Ralph, MSgt. Randall, Rodney, Roslyn, Everett and Ronita), 6 brothers and sisters, 18 grandchildren, 38, great-grandchildren and 17 great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2017, 2 p. m., at New Salem M. B. Church. Wilson Funeral Home is handling the serv- ices.
Crime National
Young Tampa Man Found Dead
Controversial Megachurch Pastor, Bishop Eddie Long Has Died
Recent photos of Bishop Eddie Long had led to widespread speculation and rumor. However, it is now being said he was suffering from an aggressive cancer.
The Tampa Police Depart- ment is conducting a death investigation after a man was found dead.
According to police, on January 6th, the girlfriend of Ryan Keith Dennis, 40, discovered him slumped on the bed and unresponsive. She called 9-1-1, who arrived and provided life-saving tech- niques. However, they were unable to revive him.
The investigation is contin- uing.
The official cause of death will be determined by the
RYAN DENNIS
Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office. Aikens Fu- neral Home is in charge of handling his arrangements.
DEATH LISTING
AIKENS FUNERAL HOME
Mr. Michael McFarland, Tampa Mrs. Cecilia Harris, Tampa Mr. Ryan K. Dennis, Tampa
HARMON FUNERAL HOME Mr. Douglas Eugene Parsley, Sr., Tampa Mr. Samuel Arnold, Tampa Ms. Jennie Lee West Samuels, Tampa M. Sharon Yolonda Williams, Tampa Ms. Patricia Ann Hobley, Tampa Ms. Irene Harold, Tampa/ Dawson, GA Mr. Jerry Lee Long, Sr., Tampa/ Riverview
INTEGRITY FUNERAL SERVICES Mr. Keith ‘Kebo’ Williams, Tampa
JACKSON FUNERAL HOME Mr Keith A. Jackson, Tampa Mr, Gary Rodriguez, Tampa
RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME Mrs. Shirley Temple Cox, Tampa Mr. Marvin Mitchell, Jr., Tampa Mr. Maurice Maldonado, Tampa
WILSON FUNERAL HOME Mrs. Temeka N. Burnett, Temple Terrace Mr. Francois LaTortue, Tampa Mrs. Fannie J. Rodgers, Tampa Mr. Reshay E. Scott, Seffner
Bishop Eddie Long, the controversial Georgia-based head of one of the nation's largest megachurches, has died, according to the church he presided over. He was 63.
Bishop Long died after a battle with an aggressive form of cancer, according to a statement by his church, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.
"Bishop Long was known as one of the most in- fluential faith leaders in the world," the church said in the statement. "He stood strong as a Kingdom Builder, pio- neering leader, and revolu- tionary mind changer."
"Although his transition leaves a void for those of us who loved him dearly, we can celebrate and be happy for him, knowing he's at peace," his wife, First Lady Vanessa Long said in the statement.
At its peak, New Birth Mis- sionary Baptist Church had
about 25,000 members. Bishop Long had a controver- sial past. In 2010, he and his church settled a lawsuit filed by four young men who ac- cused him of pressuring them into sexual relation- ships while they were teenagers and members of his congregation.
Long, who preached pas- sionately against homosexu- ality for years, denied the allegations.
Church members, many already informed by social media and text messages, wailed and shrieked at the of- ficial announcement. There had been much speculation about Long’s health after he posted a video last year of him looking extremely thin. He never publicly disclosed the nature of his illness.
Long was absent at sev- eral services during recent months but was present dur- ing Christmas and New Year’s Eve services.
PAGE 18 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017