Page 31 - Florida Sentinel 4-1-16 Edition

Funerals/Memoriam
AIKENS
MR. SAMUEL LEE WILSON
A celebration of life for Mr. Samuel Lee Wilson of Tampa, who passed away on Friday, March 25, 2016, will be held on Saturday, April 2nd at 2 p. m. at First Baptist Church of College Hill, 3838 N. 29th Street, Dr. S. Evan Burrows, senior pastor, offi- ciating. The interment will be at Florida National Ceme- tery, Bushnell, FL, at 11 a. m. on Monday, April 4, 2016.
Sam was born to Ms. Ollie Bell Wilson and the late Mr. William James Manning, on March 30, 1951 in Jack- sonville, FL.
He moved to Tampa as a child and attended school in Hillsborough County and graduated from Brewster Technical School. After grad- uation he served two years in the United States Army, dur- ing the Viet Nam War.
Sam was married to the late, Geraldine Alford. He was a longtime employee of Carry Salt Factory until the company closed. He began a new journey as an entrepre- neur as a flea market vendor and later birthed Sam’s Dis- count Moving and Hauling.
He was preceded in death by: his wife, Geraldine Alford Wilson; dad, Willie James Manning; grandmother, Thelma Louise Wilson; step- father, O’Neal Darden; and twin sisters, Deborah and Deliliah Renee Darden.
Samuel leaves to cherish his memory: with devoted mother, Ollie Bell Wilson Darden, Tampa; three sis- ters, Rev. Dr. Thelma W. Daniels (Lester), Patricia Ann Darden, and Valerie Dumas (Coley); brother, Oneal Yates Darden; step- daughter, Sheryl Alford; two stepsons, Regginald Stevens (Barbara), and Eric Fletcher, all of Tampa; eight step- grandchildren, Brandi Ger- man (Demetrius), Antoine Morrell, Tyon Bruce, Tia Al- ford, Tia Stevens, Regginald Stevens, Jr., Kiana Fletcher and Ericka Fletcher, all of Tampa; two aunts, Julia Williams, Jacksonville, FL, and Lillie Williams, Albany, GA; nephews, Lester Daniels, Jr. (Sabrina), Grovetown, GA, Deynell Daniels and Donthel Daniels, both of Tampa, Dughan Daniels, Columbus, GA, Patrick Dar- den, Robert Henderson, Adrian Johnson, Odis Hill and Andy Hill; all of Tampa; nieces, Shawn Lorette Cole- man, Janice Tillman (Ter- ran), and Lorine Hill, all of Tampa; special nephews, Trevonte, Drezha, Donthel, Kendle, Mario and Tonio; special nieces, Jamesha, Olivia and Terraniyah; de-
voted friend, Lisa Callwell; special friends, Leon Cheers, LaQuina Pierce, Raymond Youngblood, Roosevelt and Eloise Tarver, Dea. Wiley and Willie Mae Alford and Frances House; and a host of cousins, devoted relatives and friends.
The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Friday, April 1st from 5-8 p. m. The family will receive friends from 7-8 p. m.
The family and friends are asked to meet at the church on Saturday for the funeral service.
AIKENS FUNERAL HOME
MRS. CORTHEA GRAVES
The homegoing celebra- tion for Mrs. Corthea Graves of Tampa, formerly of Chicago, Illinois, who passed away on Thursday, March 24, 2016, will be held on Sat- urday, April 2nd at 11 a. m. at Aikens Funeral Home Chapel, 2708 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Rev. Michael Neely, officiating. The interment will be in Gar- den of Memories Cemetery.
On a crisp Spring day, Corthea Graves was born on March 22, 1953 to Jeffrey and Tommie Sue Qualls in Chicago, Illinois. Corthea was the first child of six to be born from this union. Corthea was raised on the south side of Chicago; where she attended Bryn Mawr Ele- mentary School and gradu- ated from South Shore High School, class of 1972. She continued on to higher edu- cation by attending IIT, where she became a Certified Nursing Assistant.
In 1968, Corthea met the love of her life, Maurice Graves. After their world- wind romance, they were united in holy matrimony on May 2, 1974. This union pro- duced three beautiful daugh- ters: Yugonda Graves, Kenya Gardner and Asia Graves. Corthea and Maurice’s mar- riage allowed them to live and travel to many places around the country while Maurice served our country in the United States Navy.
Corthea took great pride in being a mother and a wife.
Once Maurice retired from the Navy, this gave Corthea the opportunity to resettle back to her home- town of Chicago, Illinois in February of 1987, to be closer to family and friends and re- sume her nursing career. Upon Corthea’s return home, she landed her dream job at UIC Hospital. There Corthea’s natural gift as a caregiver for people shined. She enjoyed caring for others until her career was cut short due to illness, which led to her early retirement in 1999.
This bump in the road did not stop Corthea from taking care of her grandmother and nurturing her grandchil- dren. Family was very impor- tant to Corthea even when in pain she would cook Sunday dinners to show her love to her extended family.
Corthea accepted Christ at an early age and was a true believer of the Lord. She was a longtime member of L.I.F.E. Ministries and she cherished her church family.
Corthea migrated to Florida with her daughter, Yugonda and two of her grandchildren, Kayla and Jordan in July of 2015, for a fresh start in life and to enjoy the warm sunny weather Florida would offer.
After years of battling against illnesses, Corthea passed away peacefully sur- rounded by her daughter and granddaughter on March 24, 2016 at St. Joseph’s Hospital- South, Riverview, FL.
Corthea was preceded in death by: her father, Jeffery Qualls, Sr.; her mother, Tommie Sue Qualls; her beloved husband, Maurice Graves; grandmother, Creola Reed; sister, Tonya Love; and grandson, Nathan Gardner.
Corthea leaves to cherish in her precious memory: daughters, Yugonda Graves (Adam), Kenya Gardner (Raymond), and Asia Graves (Leon); siblings, Vanessa Samuels, Riverview FL, Yvette Lagrone Matteson IL, Jeffery Qualls (Irene), Yulee, FL, Gerald Qualls (Walinda), Jacksonville, FL, and Daryl Qualls (Sidney) Chicago, IL; 7 grandchildren, Kayla Hen- dricks, Darien Henry, Isaiah Gardner, Jordan Hendricks, Deon Henry, Aaliyah Gard- ner and Cameron Gardner; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Friday, April 1st from 5-8 p. m. The family will receive friends from 5:30-6:30 p. m.
The family and friends are asked to meet at the chapel on Saturday for the funeral ceremony.
AIKENS FUNERAL HOME
MRS. CLARETHA ‘KAT’ COTMAN
Celebration of life for Mrs. Claretha Cotman, who passed away on Friday, March 25, 2016, will be held on Saturday, April 2nd at 11 a. m. at First Baptist Church of College Hill, 3838 N. 29th, Street, Rev. Dr. S. Evan Bur- rows, pastor, officiating. The interment will be in Rest Haven Memorial Park Ceme- tery.
Claretha was born on March 10, 1938 in Tampa. Claretha was the youngest of six children born to the late Mr. Frank Washington, Sr. and Savannah Singleton Washington.
She attended the schools of Hillsborough County. She was a faithful member and servant of First Baptist Church of College Hill, where she served on the Senior Adult Usher Board until her eternal rest.
Claretha retired from the Hillsborough County School System after 22 years of serv- ice as a food service worker. She was affiliated with the Jolly Seniors of FBCCH and the Red Hat Society.
On September 10, 1964 Claretha “Kat” was united in holy matrimony to William “Bill” Cotman and they re- mained a happy couple until his eternal rest on May 20, 1999.
Mrs. Cotman carried on her husband’s tradition of being a great humanitarian. She will be remembered for being kind and generous to almost everyone she met. One of her greatest joys was cooking and feeding her fam- ily members or just the ordi- nary man on the street. Her life was a perfect example of the true meaning of love and kindness for she loved her neighbors as herself.
Claretha was preceded in death by: her parents, Frank Washington, Sr. and Savan- nah Washington; husband, William “Bill” Cotman; son, Donald C. Washington; sis- ters, Merline Broom and Lu- cille Knight; and brothers, Frank Washington, Jr., Thomas Washington, Sr. and George Washington.
She leaves to cherish her wonderful memories with: a loving, caring and devoted grandson, Donald “Donnie” Fesser; granddaughters, Donna Galloway (Michael), Theresa Campbell and Don- nisha and Bernadette Wash- ington; 4 great grandchildren and 1 great grandchild; aunts, Dorothy Ashe and Janie Rollins; nephews, Eugene Williams, Ronnie Reddick, Jeffrey Robertson, Thomas Wash- ington (Carla), Lawrence Cottman, Tarik Cotman, and Terence Cotman (Obran); nieces, Margarette Haywood, Thomasina Scott (Dwayne), Jennifer Cliatt (Archie), Wanda Jackson, Glenzer Roberts, Dr. Sonja Brookins- Tango (Kevin), Beatrice Payne (Donald), Alexa Cottman, Twanda Vance, An- drea Cottman and Keturah Cottman; sisters-in-law, Hi- awatha Washington and Lor- retta Cottman; and a host of grand nieces, nephews, cousins and friends; special friends, Mary Campbell and family, Deloris Tyler and family, Betty Wallace, Doshia Hart, Coral Turner, Linda Campbell, Inez Fordom, Veter Dixon, Edwina Lee, Lisa Wright and family, Pauline Rynes, Emily McMil- lian, Joe Campbell, Gwen Blocker, Wallace McDonald, Carol Nelson and family, Windell Roberson and fam- ily, LaDonna Lowery and family, and the Cottman, Campbell and Fesser fami- lies; special Deacon, Charles Roberts; and a host of other relatives and friends.
The visitation will be held on Friday, April 1st, from 5-8 p. m. at Aikens Funeral Home. The family will re- ceive friends from 6-7 p. m. The family and friends are asked to meet at 10:45 a. m. at the church on Saturday for the service.
AIKENS FUNERAL HOME
IN MEMORIAM
MARIE WHITEHURST
Now at rest, Mom you’re free from pain; you’re with Dad now together again.
From: your loving family, Jacob, Roderick and Alicia Whitehurst.
PAGE 18-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2016