Page 28 - Florida Sentinel 4-26-19

Funerals
AIKENS
MRS. MARY LEVETTE
A Memorial Celebration for Mrs. Mary Jean “Cleesi” Callahan Levette of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2019, will be held Saturday, April 27th, 11 a. m. at St. John Progressive M. B. Church, 2504 E. Chipco St., Rev. Dr. Bartholomew Banks, Sr., pastor, officiating. The in- terment will be in Sunset Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Mary was born June 8, 1941 in Quitman, Georgia. She attended St. John Pro- gressive M. B. Church.
She was preceded in death by: her father, Robert J. Shel- ton; husband, Willie Levette; brother, Albert Robinson, Jr. and great-grandson, Keteyian Jackson.
She leaves to cherish her precious memories with: her children, Tanya Jackson- Akbar and Linda Shelton- Whaley; grandchildren, Kenyatta Jackson (Andrea), Keaira Walton (Darell) and Jaelin Whaley; great-grand- children, Siera Scott, Symbia Walton, Siraiyah Walton and Nyambi Walton; mother, Sylvia Allen; sisters, Annie Pearl Thompson, Alma Kin- sey (Samuel), Carloyn Clemons, Mary Ella Robinson and Patricia Lawson; a host of other relatives and friends that will truly miss her.
The family and friends are asked to meet at the church on Saturday for the memorial service.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
MR. WILLIE JOHN BELL, JR.
A Homegoing Visitation for Mr. Willie John Bell, Jr., “Charles,” of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on Thurs- day, April 18, 2019, will be held on Friday, April 26th, at Aikens Funeral Home from 5 to7p.m.
Willie John Bell, Jr., “Charles,” was born May 14, 1958 in Tampa, to the late Willie Charles Bell and Max- ine Taylor. He attended the local schools of Hillsborough County. Willie enjoyed spend- ing time with his family and friends.
He leaves to cherish his precious memories with: his loving and dedicated wife, Diane Bell; 3 beautiful chil- dren, Tramayne Ellison (Samantha), Willie Bell (Ebony) and Nyla M. Bell; 7 grandchildren, Jacquez Gilcrest, Sharmain Ellison, Tramayne Ellison, Jr., Alexandrea Ellison, Jer- mayne Ellison, Daniel Ellison and Xavier Bell; 1 sister, Paula Reeves (Fred); great- great aunt, Rose Clemons; 2 sisters-in-law, Barbara Jones and Alice Smith and fiancé (David), all of Tampa; 3 brothers-in-law, Willie Davis, Robert Whitehead, Norman Gibson and fiancé (Her- bertha), all of Tampa; 15 lov- ing step-children; best-friend, Johnetta Goldsmith; 3 loving pets, Rosco, Precious and Pee Wee; a host of other relatives and friends that will truly miss him.
The family will receive friends during the visitation on Friday from 5-7 p. m. at the funeral home.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
HARMON
MRS. HEXE BROWN JOHNSON
Homegoing Services for Mrs. Hexe Brown Johnson, who passed away Saturday, April 20, 2019, will be held Saturday, April 27, 2019. at 11 a. m. at New Deliverance Tab- ernacle, 3001 N. 22nd St., Tampa, FL 33605, with Pastor Barbara Moore, officiating. Committal will be made at Rest Haven Memorial Park, 4615 E. Hanna Ave., Tampa, FL 33610.
Mrs. Hexe Brown Johnson was born August 24, 1972 in Tampa, FL to Will Brown, Sr. and Veola Brown, both of whom preceded her in death. She graduated from Tampa Bay Tech High School in 1990. She retired from the Tampa Police Dept. after working there many years.
She leaves to cherish her memories: husband, William Johnson, Jr.; brothers, Will Brown, Jr., Fred Bridges, Rod- erick Bridges and Thomas Jor- dan; sisters, Sarah Bowser, Sharon Pidley, Cartesia Hud- son, Denise Ellison, Kim Pig- gott, Etta Fletcher, Nuyen King, Kahila King and Janice Washington; a host of uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, step-chil- dren, godchildren and friends.
Wake will be held Friday, April 26, 2019, at Harmon Fu- neral Home, 5002 N. 40th St., Tampa, FL 33610, from 7-8 P. M., Viewing 5-7 P.M.
Friends are asked to as- semble for the processional at New Deliverance Tabernacle on Saturday at 10:45 A.M.
A Harmon Burial
RAY WILLIAMS
DR. SARAH LOUISE O’NEAL-BELL
Dr. Sarah Louise O’Neal- Bell of Tampa passed away Monday, April 15, 2019. Fu- neral services will be con- ducted Saturday, April 27, at 11 a. m. at St. James House of Prayer, 2708 N. Central Av- enue, with The Reverend William Loring, officiating.
Dr. Sarah Louise O’Neal- Bell was a native of Pineview, Georgia, born to Rosa Allen O’Neal Bryant and Douglas O’Neal. She married Cleveland Bell and to this union two chil- dren were born, Karen and Raynard Bell. Her family moved to Tampa, when she was 7 years old.
She was converted at an early age when she became a member of Mt. Tabor Mission- ary Baptist Church, Tampa, FL, under the Pastorate Rev- erend W. J. Glover, whose wife was her aunt. She was a de- voted member and a pianist for the choir.
She faithfully served as a member of Whatcoat Methodist Church, Dover, DE for 27 years. She continued her devotion to God by joining St. James Episcopal House of Prayer, Tampa, FL, in 2001. She was a very active member until the failing of her health.
Sarah was educated in the public schools of Tampa, FL. She graduated as Salutatorian and a basketball star at Don Thompson High School now called Blake High. She at- tended Hampton Institute in Virginia Beach, VA, and re- ceived a Bachelor of Arts De- gree at Bethune- Cookman College, Daytona Beach, FL. She pledged Delta under Mrs. Mary McLeod- Bethune at Bethune- Cookman. Sarah
later achieved her Master’s and Doctor of Education De- grees from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
Sarah was an ambitious and tenacious woman. She was a trailblazer and dedi- cated her life for the enhance- ment of others, especially the youth. She was an educator in both the Delaware and Florida School Districts and retired as State Supervisor of Business and Education Occupations over all of Delaware educa- tional institutions.
Sarah was a fun-loving, kindhearted person that loved people, especially her family. She was the matriarch of the family and kept everyone con- nected and together. She loved the arts, Gene Ammons and Whitney Houston were favorites. Her family will al- ways cherish her wit, humor, charm and comforting mo- ments shared.
Sarah was preceded in death by: her mother, Rosa Allen O’Neal Bryant; her fa- ther, Douglas O’Neal; and her husband, Cleveland Bell.
She leaves to cherish her memory: 1 daughter, Karen Yvette Bell-Cruz and husband, Bennie Cruz of St. Petersburg, FL, 1 son, Raynard Bell and wife, Liudmyla Bell of Sacra- mento, CA; 1 brother, Greg L. O’Neal of Philadelphia, PA; 3 sisters, Joanne, Thelma and Mary O’Neal of Tampa; 2 granddaughters, Takiyah Bell- Benson and husband, Paul Benson of Dover, DE, Saman- tha Bell of Newark, DE; 2 grandsons, David Bell and Jamal Cruz of St. Petersburg, FL; 1 niece, Eureka Davenport Love of Tampa; 1 nephew, Gregory L. O’Neal, Jr. of Philadelphia, PA; 10 great- grandchildren, Tanealle, Christian, Sarai, Joshiah, David, Jr., Tatiyana, Kamiya, Jamere, Kylee, and Jaelle; 2 great nieces, Java and Kiki; 1 great nephew, Ted; 4 special and faithful friends, Gwen He- witt, Dr. Edith Moore, Yolanda McNeil and Ira Cruz; and a host of other relatives and friends.
The Visitation will be held Friday, April 26 at 5 p. m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
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