Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 10-7-16 Online Edition

Local
Tampa Matriarch Celebrates 100th Birthday
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
More than 100 people gathered to give Mrs. Mayme Harris Hargrett a surprise birthday party on Oc- tober 1st. The party was held at the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association, 2005 N. Lamar.
Mrs. Hargrett cele- brated her 100th birthday on September 28th and the ele- gant celebration was in keep- ing with that milestone.
Mrs. Doretha Edge- comb, member of the the Hillsborough County School Board attended the event and presented Mrs. Hargrett with a proclamation. Frank Reddick also attended the event and presented Mrs. Hargrett with a City Council Resolution.
Mrs. Hargrett also re- ceived best wishes and con- gratulations from U. S. President and Mrs. Barack (Michelle) Obama; Governor Rick Scott, Mayor Bob Buck- horn, and County Commis- sion Chairman Les Miller, Jr.
A native of Jefferson County, Florida, Mrs. Har- grett attended the public schools of Hillsborough County and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1934. She earned her B. A. Degree from Florida A & M University and taught Physical Education in Sanford before returning to Tampa.
After arriving in Tampa, Mrs. Hargrett became the first Girls Basketball Coach at Middleton High School and
remained in that capacity for 10 years. She also taught Eng- lish and spent 20 years of her career at Booker T. Washing- ton, Jr. High School. She was assigned to Oak Grove Middle School when she retired in 1975, having dedicated 37 years of her life to educating students.
Mrs. Hargrett was mar- ried to the late James Har- grett, Sr. She and her husband owned and operated Hargrett’s IGA Supermarket in 1949. The store was located at 2409 E. Lake Avenue and the family lived above the store.
It was the largest Black- owned supermarket chain in the state. The couple sold it in 1959.
A member of St. Paul A. M. E. Church for many years, Mrs. Hargrett is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Mrs. Hargrett is the mother of former State Sen- ator James Hargrett, Jr. She is also a grandmother and great grandmother.
MRS. MAYME HARRIS HARGRETT
... Celebrated 100th Birthday on September 28th
Educator Retires After 24 Years Of Service
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Several years ago, a Tampa woman decided educating children would be her mission in life. She accomplished that goal and after 24 years of serv- ice, she decided to bring her career to a close.
Mrs. Rona Pryer de- cided her career as an educator would end with the school year. And, she celebrated her retirement with a celebration. Family members and friends were on hand to help her close out that chapter of her life.
A native of Tampa, Mrs. Pryer attended the public schools of Hillsborough County. She began high school at Howard W. Blake High School. But the high school was closed at the end of her sophomore year in 1971. She continued her education at Robinson High School and graduated in 1973.
Mrs. Pryer launched her career as an educator in the field of Exceptional Education Reading Resources. During her career, she worked at schools on all educational lev-
Vernon Pryer, Jr., made a presentation to his wife at her retire- ment celebration.
els. Mrs. Pryer closed out her career at Jennings Middle School, retiring as an Educa- tion Specialist.
Mrs. Pryer earned her B. S. Degree from Nova South- eastern University and contin- ued her education at Argosy University, where she earned her Ed. S Degree.
Mrs. Pryer is the daugh- ter of Mrs. Ann J. Hem- mingway and the late Homer J. Hemmingway.
She is married to Vernon Pryer, Jr., and is the mother of three.
The theme for her retire- ment celebration was, “Oh, The Place You’ll Go,” which was in keeping with her jour- ney as an educator.
As a retiree, Mrs. Pryer will concentrate on doing things that bring her pleasure such as reading, cooking, dancing, spending time with her family and helping others.
Several family members and friends were on hand to wish Mrs. Pryer a happy retirement. Among them were: Patricia Morrison, Ryan Lawton, Vernon Pryer, Jr., husband of the honoree, Mrs. Rona Pryer, the honoree, Ayce Bradford-Pryer, Ann Hemmingway, Shantel Lawton, Wayne Lawton, Jr., and Jamaal Sanders.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-A