Page 31 - Florida Sentinel 4-20-18

Funerals/Memoriam
RAY WILLIAMS
MRS. GLORIA JEAN WATKINS BARNES
Mrs. Gloria Jean Watkins Barnes of Tampa departed this life on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at her home. Homegoing serv- ices will be held Saturday, April 21 at 2:00 p.m. at Mt Tabor Missionary Baptist Church, 2606 W. Grace Street with Pastor T. D. Leonard, offi- ciating. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Barnes was born on January 24, 1948 in Tampa, Florida. She was a graduate of Howard W. Blake High School, Class of 1967. She was em- ployed by the School District of Hillsborough County, Food Services for 29 years. She re- tired on July 19th, 2000 due to health reasons. She was a de- voted member of Mt. Tabor M. B. Church where she dutifully served with the Ushers Min- istry # 2 and Senior Women Mission Ministry. Her love for God and His word was evident in her life as she faithfully at- tended Sunday School, Bible Study and Baptist Training Union. Gloria was also a mem- ber of the Neighborhood Crime Watch Committee in her com- munity.
Mrs. Barnes was a devoted wife, mother, and friend. She was preceded in death by: her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mose Watkins and Willie Elizabeth Watkins; husband, Ronald Barnes; son, Donald Barnes and God-mother, Marie Arnold.
She leaves to cherish her memories: one son, John Po- well; special cousins, Debra Woodard of Las Vegas, NV and Loletia Flowers of Tampa, Florida; sister-in-law, Rosetta Barnes; two nieces, Anna Barnes of Tampa, FL and Arthenia Barnes of Orlando, FL; nephew, Adolphus Barnes; a special God-daughter, Juana Mathis of Jacksonville, FL; a life-long friend, Katherine Johnson; her Mt. Tabor M. B. church family; and a host of other sorrowing relatives and friends.
The remains will repose after 5 p.m. Friday, April 20 at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue. Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MR. JEROME OWENS DARBY
Mr. Jerome Owens Darby of Tampa Florida passed away Monday, April 16, 2018. Funeral services will be conducted Satur- day, April 21, at 2 p.m. at Ray Williams Memorial Chapel, 301 N. Howard Avenue with Pastor Donald Lott officiating. Inter- ment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Jerome Darby was a na- tive of Harlem, New York and a resident of Tampa for many years. He was a graduate of Howard W. Blake High School, Class of 1964. His life in this re- ality was a blessed journey that inspired family and friends through his gift from our GOD. That gift from GOD, a beautiful soulful voice that touched the chambers of your heart. His journey started at Mt. Tabor M. B. Church. As a kid at the age of 10 years old, he sang with the first choir with a voice that touched your very soul. Spon- sored by Gay Papa Miles, the Jay Darby show with the Baron Band, Faith, Hope & Charity, fea- turing Zulema, came to H. W. Blake High School Campus, Kap- pas festivity and put the roof on fire.
Paramedics were in the building ready to respond be- cause the hardest working man was performing. Performances at the Patio Lounge, Oasis, & Roseland Ballroom were leg- endary and like no other show ever seen. Jay Darby pur- sued his solo singing career and sung with artists such as Tyrone Davis, Betty Wright, Carla Thomas, and Johnnie Taylor. Jerome (Jay) Darby was "The Goat".
Jay Darby was preceded in death by: maternal grand- mother, Florida Nathan; his par- ents, Florine & Charlie Darby; brother, Charlie Darby Jr; aunts, Dorothy Roberts and Vandeline Smith; and uncle, Bernard Rus- sell. Jay Darby leave his life memories in the hearts of: his sister, Patricia Darby; brother, Burnett Darby; son, Andre Darby; nieces Khalilah Washing- ton, Simone Sarah and husband, Nabil, and Yasmin Washington; nephew, Leonard Washington; aunt, Ida Mae Baldwin; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who loved him in this life and afterwards. Stand Up as his name is called.
His rendition of "Precious Lord" touched You like no other artist. Jay Darby, "Precious Lord Take My Hand". Our GOD did not let You fall. GOD caught You singing, Precious Lord and the LORD held your hand. I have fought the good fight, I have fin- ished the race, I have kept the faith - 2 Timothy 4:7.
The remains will repose after 5 p.m. Friday, April 20 at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue. Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MRS. MARY LYVONNE GALLON
Mrs. Mary Lyvonne Gallon of Tampa passed away Wednes- day, April 11, 2018. Funeral services will be conducted Sat- urday, April 21 at 11:00 a.m. at Mount Tabor Missionary Bap- tist Church, 2606 W. Grace Street with Pastor T. D. Leonard, officiating. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Me- morial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Gallon was a native of Madison, Florida and a resi- dent of Tampa for 59 years. She was educated in the public schools of Madison and gradu- ated as Salutatorian of Madison County Training High School, Class of 1956. She furthered her education at Hillsborough Community College and was a member of Mt. Tabor M. B. Church. Mrs. Gallon retired after 34 years of service as a Registered Nurse from Tampa General Hospital.
She was preceded in death by her parents; Summer Tookes, Sr. and Ethelyn Wyche Tookes; son, Rodney A. Gallon; and brothers, Horace Tookes and Mark Tookes.
She leaves to cherish her memory: a loving and devoted husband of 61 years, Robert L. Gallon; two sons, Ricky Gallon and wife, Kim and Russell Gal- lon; grandchildren, Nikki Gal- lon and wife, Rebekah, Zoe Gallon, and Chelene Harris and husband, Jonathan; two great grandchildren, Jaiden Harris and Jaielle Harris; two brothers, Summer Tookes, Jr. and Mikel Tookes; two sisters, Beverly Cooks and husband, Chandler and Velma Helton and husband, Gerald; brother- in-law, Daniel Gallon and wife, Theresa; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.
The remains will repose Fri- day, April 20th from 5 to 8 p.m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue. Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MRS. PHYLISS ROSE THURSTON
On Sunday, April 15, 2018, the Lord called the angelic spirit of Phyliss Rose Thurston home. Homegoing services will be con- ducted Wednesday, April 25, at 12 Noon at Mount Tabor M. B. Church, 2606 W. Grace St., with Pastor T.D. Leonard, officiating.
Deaconess Phyliss Rose Thurston was born on August 3, 1946 in Tampa, Florida to Ola and the late Earl Thurston Jr. and was the oldest of five chil- dren. She attended John Adams High School in Cleveland, Ohio and later matriculated at Erwin Vocational-Technical School, Tampa, FL, becoming a Certified CNA and Phlebotomist. She re- tired from Tampa General Hos- pital in 2011.
Phyliss was an active, dedi- cated, faithful member of Mt. Tabor M. B. Church, where she served on the Deaconess Min- istry, Healthcare Ministry and Usher Board #2 and served as a Sunday School Teacher and W.I.A. Teacher. She was also a member of the City Wide Prayer Band.
She was preceded in death by: her father, Earl Thurston Jr.; and aunt, Mary Ellen Thurston.
She leaves to cherish fond memories: her loving and de- voted mother, Ola Thurston; 6 children, Sherita Bolden, Dwayne Jones, Deneen Jones, Leroy Jones Jr., Christopher Jones and Kevin Jones and wife, Chanda; 8 embraced children, Lorenzo Carswell, Antonio Car- swell, Tameka Jones and hus-
band, William, KaTasha Jones, Kerrick Jones, Sr., Heather Cot- ton, Diana Rivers and Rolena Grandberry; 13 grandchildren, L’Anthony Thomas, Chantelle Thomas, Persephone Smith and husband, Delacey of Tifton, GA, Z’novia Burley of Tifton, GA, Brittney Johnson, Brandon Johnson, Sabrel Teel, Kiearia Jones, Daijah Jones, Christo- pher Jones Jr., Justice Jones, Mirakel Jones and Paris Jones; 21 great-grandchildren; 3 sis- ters, Lydia Watts of Grand Isles, NY, Rosiland Crenshaw of Litho- nia, GA and Dr. Kim Wilson and husband, Roosevelt of Jackson, MS; 1 brother, Steven Thurston and wife, Sharon of Newport News, VA; 6 nephews, Edward Watts, Jr. and wife, Amy of Buf- falo, NY, Jonathan Watts and wife, Andrea of East Aurora, NY, Eric Crenshaw of Atlanta, GA, Jamaal Wilson of Tallahassee, FL, Nathaniel Wilson of Spring- field, OH and Marcus Wilson and wife, Amanda of Indianapo- lis, IN; cousins, Anita Arnold, Barbara Sorey, Geraldine Mc- Collin, Regina Peterson, Horace Drew, Keith Drew, Darryl Drew, Ralph Davis, Lartrecia Davis, Kathartis Neal, Marlon Monroe, Inez Patterson, Jackie Vander- horst, Michelle Vanderhorst and Ron Vanderhorst; and 2 very de- voted and loving cousins, De- lores Hardy and husband, Lensy and Verneine Monroe and hus- band, Willie.
Phyliss had lots of people who truly loved and treasured her, but we would be remised if we did not mention, Leroy Jones, Sr. of Dalton, GA, Wilma Jones of St. Stephens, AL, Robert Bolden Jr., of Cleveland, OH, Ruth Smith and Belinda Jef- ferson and a host of other rela- tives, friends and church members.
The remains will repose Tuesday, April 24 from 4 - 7 p.m. at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue, and the family will receive friends from 6 - 7 p.m. Arrangements en- trusted to RAY WILLIAMS FU- NERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
IN MEMORIAM
MOTHER LEOLA McRAE JONES July 25, 1921 — April 19, 2004
Your memory is our keepsake with which we will never part. God has you in His keeping, we have you in our hearts.
Your children, Louie McRae and Margaret Love; grandchil- dren, and great grandchildren.
PAGE 20-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2018