Page 35 - Florida Sentinel 11-27-20

Funerals
FAMILY NOTICE
MR. CURTIS L. GIBSON
Mr. Curtis L. Gibson was born at home in Daytona Beach, on Jan- uary 14, 1952, to his loving mother, (late) Rosa Lee Broxton, his father, Louis Gibson, and loving siblings, Catherine Jones, (late) Johnnie Mae Burney, (late) Harry Broxton and (late) Alexis Golphin. He fell asleep in death November 14, 2020.
Curtis was a kind, loving, com- passionate, gentle giant (6’4”). He was hospitable, laid back, easy to get along with, and a very good lis- tener. He was a Jack-of-all-trades, from carpentry, to driving trucks professionally. He loved sports and was extremely talented, play- ing basketball and football at Mainland High School, receiving a scholarship to Stetson University, until his knee injuries. He enjoyed watching sports, cracking jokes and music. Because he wasn’t tied to his phone, his family could al- ways reach him by contacting his only brother’s oldest child, fa- vorite niece and fellow “Road War- rior,” Sonya Sanford. They were very close; Curtis and his family could always depend on her.
Curtis moved to Deltona to live with his doting daughter, Terri Hough-Monroe, and her husband, Jerome in December 2019. They surrounded him with love and af- fection from his other daughte, Sherri Hughes, his grandsons, Jerome, Jalen, and other family. He thrived in that loving family en- vironment, having just about all the crabs he could eat. His daugh- ter Terri, was his constant support and caregiver, up until the sudden end of his life.
He is survived by: his eldest sister, Catherine; sons, Curtis L. Gibson, Jr. and Nicholas Gibson; daughters, Terri Hough-Monroe (Jerome), Sherri Hughes (Victor), Gaye Gibson, Khadija Murphy (step-daughter); host of family that loved him dearly, grandchil- dren, nieces, nephews and cousins; and friends who cared.
We look forward to Curtis’ death being reversed when God’s promise at Acts chapter 24, verse 15 is fulfilled: “There is going to be a resurrection...”
FAMILY NOTICE
MR. CHRISTIAN BETANCOURT
A Homegoing Celebration for Mr. Christian Betancourt of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on Thursday, October 22, 2020, will be held on Saturday, Novem- ber 28th, 2020, at 11 a. m., at West Broad Street Baptist Church, 3809 W. Broad St., Tampa, FL 33614, Pastor Roger Bummer, of- ficiating.
Christian Betancourt was born on March 15, 1991 to Carolyn Barnes and Alejandro Betancourt of Tampa, FL.
He is predeceased by his grandmother, Vera Barnes and uncle, Michael Bennett.
He attended Hillsborough County Schools and moved to Miami, FL after graduating in 2009, to attend Florida Interna- tional University.
He later resided in Los Ange- les, California, then Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam teaching English to his Vietnamese students until his passing.
Christian had a passion for teaching and helping others. He was very compassionate, loving, respectable, a true leader.
Christian leaves to mourn in his passing: his loving mother, Carolyn Barnes; brother, Corey White of Tampa, FL; step-father, Felix Tonte Tampa; aunts, Michelle Barnes, Tampa, Shirley Fay Abibo, of Okalahoma City, Sheryl Alford of Tampa; and a host of cousins. On his father’s side, his grandmother, Olga Be- tancourt, Tampa; sister, Bianca Betancourt, Tampa, Nina Betan- court, Tampa; brother, Alejandro Betancourt, III, Tampa; brother, Dominique Betancourt, Tampa; a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.
Burial for Christian will be held at Rose Hill Memorial, 4406 East Chelsea Street, Tampa, FL 33610, on Saturday. Facial cover- ing is required. All black attire. No photos / cameras allowed.
Viewing will be held at West Broad Street Baptist Church, Sat- urday, November 28, 2020, 10 a. m.-11 a. m., before the service starts.
Retired Pioneer Childcare Provider Dies At 93
Local
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
A woman who provided childcare to generations has died. Mrs. Leila Bryant Aldridge was 93.
A Tampa native, Mrs. Aldridge was the daughter of the late William and Beat- rice Bryant. Her mother passed when she was an infant and her father ensured that she, her sister and brother were taken care of.
She attended the public schools of Hillsborough County, graduating from Mid- dleton High School.
Her daughter, Dr. Shirley Speights said her mother had a deep love for children, and enrolled in numerous childcare classes.
After obtaining the neces- sary background in childcare, Mrs. Aldridge and her sister, Mrs. Lillian Williams Brown opened a daycare in the basement of First Baptist Church of College Hill during the 1950s.
The two sisters operated the childcare center for more than 20 years. In the 1970s after the center closed at the church, Mrs. Williams opened and operated a center for several years.
Mrs. Aldridge added to her home on N. 24th Street and opened Aldridge’s Daycare Center.
Through the years, Mrs. Aldridge educated the chil- dren of the community. And when those children became parents, she educated them as well. She always had a waiting list of parents wanting her to educate their children.
“Not one child left my mother without knowing every- thing they needed to know to attend school. She loved chil- dren and had a heart of gold. She was dedicated,” Dr. Speights said.
“She also had a special con- nection with the parents, who often came to see her after their children had moved on.”
Mrs. Aldridge was mar- ried to Robert Aldridge and to that union, one child, Shirley, was born.
A lifelong member of First Baptist Church of College Hill, Mrs. Aldridge was active in her church and worked with the children to learn their parts for programs during Easter and Christmas.
MRS. LEILA BRYANT ALDRIDGE
May 16, 1927 —
November 20, 2020
For a period of time re- cently, Mrs. Aldridge had lived with her daughter in Tal- lahassee. “She told me she wanted to go home. So, I brought her home on Wednes- day. On Thursday, she was a lit- tle weak, but she ate. She passed away during the night.
“My mother had a good life.
She loved her family, her church and she loved children.” In addition to preparing the children of others for the fu- ture, she also taught her own daughter for life. “She wanted me to get an education because she wanted to make sure that I could take care of myself. And
that is just what I did.”
Mrs. Aldridge is survived
by her daughter, grandson, Charles Speights, II, and granddaughter, Dr. Shea Speights. She also has two great grandchildren, Ghea Foxx, and Charles, III, her sister, Mrs. Lillian Williams Brown, and her prayer sister and sister-in-law, Mrs. Ruby Bryant, of Jacksonville, among others.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Aldridge will be held on Satur- day, December 5th. Wilson’s Fu- neral Home is in charge of handling arrangements.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2020 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 19-A