Page 38 - Florida Sentinel 5-10-19

Funerals
INTEGRITY
DEACON ANTHONY MACK, SR.
A Celebration of Life for Deacon Anthony Mack, Sr. will be held Saturday, May 11, 2019, at 11 a. m. at St. John Progres- sive Missionary Baptist Church, 2504 E. Chipco St., Tampa, Rev. Dr. Bartholomew Banks, Sr., Pastor, with Rev. Eric Gallman, Pastor of Agape Christian Church, Tampa, offi- ciating.
Tony Mack was born preco- cious, that is he was a child who acted much older than his age. Picture a baby in diapers keep- ing his younger brother also in diapers - from eating grass as the two sat on a blanket in the yard. His speech as a toddler was no-nonsense and definitely was never baby talk. He spoke his mind which did not sit well with many grown folks, but he never meant to be disrespect- ful. That was just his way. And that way changed very little over his 66 years.
When just 10 years old, he came to Clewiston, Florida to live with his paternal grandfa- ther, Charlie Mack to learn the ins and outs of running his mom-and-pops business in the all-black community of Harlem. And learn the business he did from ordering new stock for the shelves to checking out groceries and logging credit items in a ledger, he became an expert. When his parents Theodore R. Mack and Eleanor O. Pope Mack, and his siblings joined him in Harlem in the summer of 1963, Tony taught them the ropes of running the retiring Charlie Mack’s small grocery-cafe’-motel business that catered primarily to the seasonal workers in the muck- rich South Florida area of veg- etables and sugar cane farms.
In the “tweens” years he continued to manage the store, but also ran a newspaper route with his younger brother, Edwin, delivering the Miami Herald, Tampa Tribune, and Palm Beach Post to Harlem residents before school, where he was an honor roll student and played drums in the band.
At sixteen, Tony decided to play football at Clewiston High School, and for the first time in his life, he was somewhat a kid. He loved playing football and even though practice greatly in- terfered with his business chores, he was allowed to play. The playful side of Tony Mack emerged, and it mellowed the supremely serious demeanor of the young man.
He graduated Clewiston High in 1970 and attended Florida A&M University in Tal- lahassee, where he joined the ROTC and Alpha Phi Alpha Fra-
ternity. ROTC made sense. As a kid, he was fanatical about watching war movies. He blos- somed in the brotherhood of the Alphas and made lifelong friends.
After graduation from FAMU with a Business Degree, Tony fulfilled his obligation of three years in the Army and spent 17 years in the Army Re- serve. In his civilian career, he spent many years in the com- puter industry, selling to many Tampa and surrounding area banks their first ATM machines.
He married shortly after graduation from FAMU; and had two sons and a daughter from his previous marriage. In the early 90s, he met his loving wife, Veronica (Roni) Conage of Tampa, who cared for him until he passed; they shared twenty- seven years of his life together.
Over the years, Tony took on different jobs and acquired a rich knowledge of skills. He worked as a Project Manager for the Tampa Hillsborough Action Plan (THAP). He worked as Se- curity for local companies in- cluding Tiffany’s, and worked with security at TIA. When he became ill a few months ago, Tony had been a member of an officiating crew with FHSAA for high school football for 20 years and had also officiated three years of high school basketball and 15 years for the American Athletic Conference for college football.
Tony cultivated the image of an insufferable grouch to hide a heart of gold. Those who knew him knew that heart. He didn’t hesitate to fix a neighbor’s win- dow or fly to St. Louis with tools in tow to install outside lighting for his sister. He could also be an irritating know-it-all because he usually was right. He loved good soul music and shared his discovery of little known artists like “Walter Jackson.” He loved his cigars and jawboning at the pipe shop. He enjoyed good food and good times with friends and family. He was a dutiful son and fabulous friend, a devoting fa- ther, a god-daddy and grandpa supreme. He was most happy in the last years when he had a car full of “grands” heading to the ice-cream shop on Sundays after church.
He as a member of Agape Christian Church and had been a Deacon since March 2016. He served as Chairman of the Dea- con Board and a member of the Agape Board of Trustees.
Tony is preceded in death by his parents and older brother, Michael J. Baulkman, Sr.
In addition to his wife, Veronica (Roni) Mack, Tony leaves to cherish his memories: his sons, Kevin Johnson-Mack of Tallahassee, Anthony R. Mack, Jr., Taureon C. (Nashay) Mack, Sr., Jimmie L. Conage, Jr., Bobby L. Conage, all of Tampa; daughters, Taunshae (Jason) Mack-Bryant of Lawrenceville, GA, Veronda A. Conage and a goddaughter, Kari Knowles, of Tampa; brother, Edwin M. Mack of Ft. Myers, FL; sisters, Carolyn (Jerome) King- cade of Black Jack, MO, Dora (Andrew)Lovett of Callahan, FL; aunt, LaVerne Mack of Tampa, Lillie Pope of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Thelma Pope of Sanford, FL, and Alice Pope of Tallahassee, FL; uncle, Isaac (Patricia) Pope of Tallahassee; grandchildren, Johnathan Q. Mack, Jeremiah D. Mack, Tori K. Ny’sha Mack, Taureon C. Mack, Jr., Jimmie Conage, III, Yrral J. Brown, Lavarious M. Brown, Yarrell V. Brown, Violet C. Conage, and Vion J. Conage, all of Tampa, Jason E. Bryant and Spencer A. Bryant, of Lawrence, GA; nephews, Michael Baulkman of Beltville, MO, Wade R. Kingcade of Florissant, MO, Andre Lovett of Jacksonville, FL, Alex Lovett of Orlando, FL, Elijah Mack of Tampa; nieces, Cynthia Edwina James of Lakeland, FL, Shanor Mack of Jacksonville, Kendall Kingcade Powell of Black Jack, MO, Kesua Baulkman-Frazier of Pensacola, FL, Michael Baulk- man-Summers of Clewiston, Clorice Foster of Milton, FL, and a host of dear cousins, friends, and other relatives.
The visitation will be held at Agape Christian Church, 4816 North 43rd Street, Friday, May 10th,from6to8p.m.
The family and friends are asked to assemble at St. John Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, 2504 Chipco Street, Tampa, on Saturday, May 11th at 10:45 a. m.
A SERVICE OF INTEGRITY
RAY WILLIAMS
MR. GARY L. MAYS
Mr. Gary L. Mays of Tampa, passed away Saturday, May 4, 2019. The Homegoing Service will be conducted Saturday, May11,at2p.m.atNewDeliv- erance Tabernacle Church, 3001 N. 22nd Street, Tampa, FL 33605, with Pastor Barbara Moore, officiating. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Me- morial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Gary L. Mays was a na- tive and lifelong resident of Tampa, Florida and was edu- cated in the public schools of Hillsborough County.
He leaves to cherish his lov- ing memories: his loving par- ents, Leonard Mays and Dorothy Dixon Pressley (Ron Pressley); sisters, Deborah Dixon, and April Mays; step- brothers, Donald Pressley (Tracey Pressley), and Ryan Pressley (Taquasha Pressley); nieces, Britinae Mays, Colyia Carr, and Akenya McCloude; nephew, Johnny Simmons; great-nieces, Aaliyah Mar- tinez, Zariah Mills, and Camari Dunbar; great-nephews, Davarian Willis, Jr., Jay’cee Simmons, and Ji’rih Simmons; and also a hosts of aunts, un- cles, cousins and family and friends.
The visitation will be held Friday, May 10, 2019, from 5 - 8 p. m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT ROBERT HARRISON, JR.
Senior Master Sergeant Robert Harrison, Jr., passed away Wednesday, May 1, 2019. Funeral services will be con- ducted Saturday, May 11, at 11 a. m. at Ray Williams Memo- rial Chapel, 301 N. Howard Av- enue, with Pastor Donald Lott, officiating. Interment will be held Monday, May 13 at 11 a. m. at the Florida National Ceme- tery, 6502 SW 102 Avenue, Bushnell, Florida 33513.
Robert was a native of Michigan City, Indiana, born to Robert Harrison Frierson and Lennie Mae Isom Frierson. He was a graduate of Elston High School in Michigan City, and in 1955, he enlisted into the United States Air Force. Robert proudly served his country for 26 years and he was stationed at numerous bases around the world. He re- tired in 1981 after attaining the rank of Senior Master Ser- geant.
After retiring from the mil- itary, he attended St. Leo Col- lege. Robert then furthered his career with the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital for 18 years as a travel cashier, retiring in 2004 with a total of 44 years of federal service to our country. Robert was a member of the American Legion and a Prince Hall affiliated Mason.
He was preceded in death by: his father, Robert Frierson Harrison; brothers, Edward and Leon; and sister, Ethel.
He leaves to cherish his memory: his mother, Lennie Mae Isom Frierson; his loving and devoted wife of 61 years, Gloria Jean Harrison; chil- dren, Robbie Harrison, Dwayne Harrison (Patty), Reginald Harrison (Linda), Debra Harrison, Felicia Haley (Steven), and daughter-in-law, Claudette Harrison; siblings, Brenda, Marion, Barbara, Denny, Leonard, and David; grandchildren, Amber Harri- son, Amonda Thomas (Rod- ney), Dyrhonda Copeland, Jordan Griffin (James), Symone Griffin, Janee’ Harri- son, Terry Wilson, Alexander Ramsey, and Brittany Hall; great- grandchildren, Roderick Thomas, Aryana Thomas, Cynija Davis-Griffin, Jashaun Thomas, Jalayla Thomas, Leah Fury-Griffin, Dominik Scott, and Timothy Thomas; and a host of nieces and nephews.
The visitation will be held Friday,May10from5-8p.m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
PAGE 20-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019