Page 31 - Florida Sentinel 8-30-19

Memoriam
Local
Family Member Of Iconic Rogers Family Passes
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
MAJORIE FRANCIS LEWIS 8/31/1928 —10/29/2016
Happy Birthday, my love. We all miss you with every breath in our bodies. I hope you have someone to help you blow out your heavenly candles. We love you, Nana, Grandma, Mom, Auntie, etc.
From Meme. Mother, I miss you, Stan.
Dr. Minnie Medesta Major, age 72, passed away peace- fully on August 23, 2019 in the company of her children, grand- children, other family, church members and friends, who prayed and sang spiritual songs that she loved.
Dr. Major was born on Octo- ber 25, 1946, in Tampa, Florida to Benjamin and Hallique Rogers Major, and is a grand- daughter of the late G. D. and Minnie L. Rogers (iconic busi- ness founders of Central Life In- surance Company, the Rogers Hotel on Central Avenue, Bonnet Lake, Rogers Funeral Homes, Dol- phin Motel in Jekyell Island, GA, and philanthropists for whom the historic Rogers Park, in Tampa, FL, is named).
She attended local public schools and was a proud graduate of George S. Middleton, High School, in Tampa, FL (Class of 1964). Dr. Major later married Starlon Washington, moved to Michigan and was blessed to have five children – Kenny, Jason and Kristin. Sons Jerome and Justin passed in their youth. The passing of her sons inspired Ms. Major to pursue a career in the medical field.
She accepted and devoted her life to Christ at Community Bible Baptist Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dr. Major was a vora- cious reader who believed there was no end to knowledge. After re- turning to Tampa, Dr. Major at- tained an Associate’s degree in Registered Nursing, a Bachelor of Management and Marketing de- gree, a Master of Business Admin- istration degree and, at 64 years of age, her doctorate (Ph.D.) in Nurs- ing, presenting her dissertation, “Understanding Why Nurses Leave Their Job in the Hospital Setting: A Mixed Methods Study In Volun- tary Turnover.”
Her career included holding positions in the healthcare indus- try as a Case Manager and Clinical Operations Analyst for GENEX Services and Humana Insurance;
DR. MINNIE MEDESTA MAJOR
Supervisor for Coventry Health Care (First Health), Health Inte- grated, Kemper National Services and ResCare Home Health; Direc- tor of Nursing for Integrated Claim Strategies; Director of Professional Development for Infusion Thera- pies; Staff Nurse for Neo-Natal In- tensive Care, Blodgett Hospital; High Risk Obstetrics, St. Joseph’s Hospital; Progressive and Critical Care, Tampa General Hospital, (Concentrating on direct care to the spinal cord injured, closed head injured and cerebral vascular acci- dent population).
She was a Certified Case Man- ager (CCM), Certified Psychiatric & Mental Health Nurse and affiliated with the American Nurses Associ- ation and Project Management In- stitute.
Dr. Major loved playing the piano, painting, traveling on cruises, singing and eating Caribbean food. She loved her children, grandchildren, great- grandchildren and family. She was instrumental in preserving the his- tory and legacy of the Rogers Fam- ily.
Her final church home was Idlewild Baptist Church/Idlewild at The Springs in the Tampa area. She served on the Adopt-A- Block ministry, Prayer Warriors Moms of Minors, Shepherd‘s Min- istry and choir and was a beloved member. She also raised three God-fearing children and her life
was a living example of her favorite Bible verse, Psalm 122:6 – “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; May those who love you be secure.” She also was doing a study of the Book of Revelation at the time of her transition.
Dr. Major is preceded in death by: her father, Benjamin, and mother, Hallique; sons, Justin Ethan and Jerome Vic- tor; brother, Tony Major; and sister, Gloria Major.
She is survived by: her former spouse, Starlon Washington; her three children, Ken Wash- ington, and spouse, Stephanie, and children, Isaac and Isaiah (Hickory Creek TX); David Jason Washington, and spouse Shanada, and children, Tylisha, Jaalyn, David, Jr., Sade and Caleb (Temple Terrace, FL); Kristin Joy and her children, Adrian, Damari and William (Zephyrhills, FL); great-grandchil- dren, Indie, Genevieve (Gigi), Luna and Amaya; sister, Jacquelin Major (Sarasota, FL); brother, James Ransom, and spouse, Jan, and children, Alena and Marcus (Tampa); sister-in- law, Betty Major, and children, Munatsi and Farai (Orlando, FL); and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
The wake (visitation and view- ing) will be held on Friday, Sep- tember6,2019(5to8p.m.)atRay Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33606. The family will be present during the wake (7 to 8 p. m.). The funeral service will be held on Sat- urday, September 7, 2019 (2 p. m.) at Idlewild Baptist Church, 18333 Exciting Idlewild Boulevard, Lutz, FL 33548. Flowers may be may be delivered to the funeral home on Friday, September 6 by 2 p. m. Other kind words or gestures may be presented to the family at the wake or funeral services.
For more information, please contact Ray Williams Funeral Home at (813) 253-3419, Fax: (813) 251-4912 or Email: ray- williamsfh@verizon.net.
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