Page 37 - Florida Sentinel 9-10-21

Funerals
FAMILY NOTICE
DEACON WILLIE C. FLEMING, SR.
His Journey
On September 1, 2021, a
prayer warrior, a man of God, a man of honor, and a man of in- tegrity, Deacon Willie C Fleming Sr., was called home to be with the Lord.
The youngest of three chil- dren, Willie was born June 13, 1938, to the late Oscar and Ezzie Mae Fleming.
Willie “Poppa Stoppa” Flem- ing earned his diploma from Marshall High School in 1959. Upon graduation, he attended Florida Agricultural and Me- chanical University in Tallahas- see, FL, where he received a scholarship to play football. Willie played 31⁄2 years for Florida A&M (12 credit hours short of receiving his bachelor’s degree) before being drafted to the United States Army.
He served in the U. S. mili- tary for 21⁄2 years before receiv- ing an honorable discharge due to an injury he sustained while serving our country.
While in the military, he con- tinued to train for football know- ing that one day he would be able to further his football career.
While at Florida A&M Willie was introduced to the love of his life by her brother, Pastor Willie Demps, Sr. On March 28, 1964, Willie married the love of his life Henrietta Fleming.
In 1965, Willie signed with a semi-pro league for two years, the Florida Brahmans, who changed their name to the Lake- land Brahmans the following year.
After two years of playing
with Lakeland Brahmans he was drafted to the Houston Oilers then later played with the Dallas Cowboys. Due to a knee injury that ended his football career, he moved back to Plant City, Florida, and began a career at Coronet Industries as a lead- man. He retired in 2002 after working more than 40 years at the mine.
Willie C Fleming, Sr., ac- cepted Christ at a very early age at Progressive Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Elder Benjamin Boderick, Sr., where he was later ordained as a Deacon.
Willie was preceded in death by: his father, Oscar Fleming; mother, Ezzie Mae Fleming; sis- ters, Mary Magdalene Fleming and Rose Mary Fleming.
He is survived by: his loving and devoted wife of 57 years, Henrietta Fleming; three sons, Michael (Tongee) Fleming of Desoto, TX, Willie (Carla) Flem- ing, Jr., of Plant City, FL, and Lenado “Antwan” (Meagan) of Franklin, PA; four daughters, Sheila (Fred) Lancaster of Plant City, FL, Iris (Ray) Lewis of Plant City, FL, Dagmar Plasencia of Riverview, FL, and Desiree (Ar- tavius) Balloon of Okinawa, Japan; daughter-niece, Cassan- dra Bostic of Tallahassee, FL; fourteen grandchildren, Clarence “Jay” (Ali) Williams of Desoto, TX, Terrell (Victoria) Williams of Desoto, TX, Janae (Malik) Charles of Plant City, FL, Jalonda (Marcus) Dexter of Plant City, FL, Jordin (Davion) Riley of Lakeland, FL, Hannah Fleming, Josiah Lancaster, Raevyn Lewis, Willie Fleming, III, Jaiden Lewis, Kaiden Lewis, Jacob Fleming, Alexis Fleming, Andre “AJ” Pryor, Jr.; two great grands, Blair Williams and Ta- fari Williams; brother-in-law, Pastor Willie Demps, Sr., (Milli- cent) of Pensacola, FL; godchil- dren, Sherrie Ingram, Latonya Greer, Anthony Hamilton, and Karen Lampkin; devoted friends, Raynell Rutherford and Porter Flowers; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many, many friends.
“We are confident, I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”
II Corinthians 5:8
FAMILY NOTICE
MR. ROBERT (‘JITTERBUG’) WATKINS
Homegoing service for Mr. Robert “Jitterbug” Watkins of 51310 Palm Park Court, Tampa, Florida 33610, who passed away Tuesday, August 24, 2021. Fu- neral services will be conducted Saturday, September 11, at 1 p. m. at Northside Missionary Bap- tist Church, 5706 N. 40th Street, with Pastor Leonard Harrington, officiating.
Mr. Robert Watkins was a na- tive of Tampa, FL for over 70 years, was born in Thomasville, GA. He attended Hillsborough County Public Schools and served in the United States Army.
He was preceded in death by: his mother, Ceola Watkins; grandmother, Luvenia Watkins; sisters, Johnnie Mae Brown and Mary Joyce Bowers; aunt, Marie Melvin and husband, O. C. Melvin; sons, Johara A. Simp- son, and Robert L. Watkins.
He leaves to cherish loving memories of him: his wife, Thelma Watkins and children, Octavious “Flop” Simpson, Cor- nell Watkins and sister, Lavoura “Angie” Watkins; grandsons, Oc- tavious “Tae” Simpson, Em- manuel “Man Man” Simpson, Johara “Nico” Simpson; and granddaughters, Zakiya Watkins, Ondina Watkins, Oc- tavia Simpson, Bezinthia “BD” Burt, Rodericka Grace, and An- toneisha Waiters; loving sisters- in-law, Joanne Vickers (James Earl Vickers, II), Mary Alice O’Neal (Eddie “GG” Hill). He also leaves behind: sister, Sally Jones, and brothers, Johnnie Williams (Bertha Williams), Larry Williams-Watkins; loving aunt, Doreatha “Sister” Grace (Big Earl Grace); great- grandchil- dren, Adrian “Tanka” Pope, Aden Dames, Naomi Watkins, Juanita Watkins, Messiah Walker, Khing Walker, and Jor- dan Lane; and a host of other sorrowing relatives and friends.
The remains will repose on Friday, September 10, 2021, from 5 p. m. – 7 p. m., at North- side Missionary Baptist Church, 5706 North 40th Street, Tampa, Florida 33610.
FAMILY NOTICE
MR. ORAL LAMAR MCCULLOUGH, SR. (‘HUH MAN’)
Funeral services for Mr. Oral Lamar McCullough, Sr., (Huh Man), will be held on Saturday, September 11, 2021, 12 noon, at Re-Birth Missionary Baptist Church (Park), 1924 E. Co- manche Ave., Tampa 33610, with Deacon Sylvester McCul- lough, officiating.
Oral Lamar McCullough, Sr. was born on April 22, 1959, in Bartow, Florida to the late Sylvester and Alberta McCul- lough. He attended the public schools of Hillsborough County.
Oral passed away on Tuesday, August 17, 2021.
Oral was preceded in going home by: his wife, Marjorie Mc- Cullough; parents, Sylvester and Alberta McCullough; brother, Carlton Earl McCul- lough, Sr., sister, Martha Jones; nephews, Harold Nelson, Jr. and Deion Washington.
Oral leaves to cherish mem- ories of him with: his children, Willie James Bell, Cory McCul- lough, Oral McCullough, Jr. and Ellissa Richardson; grandchil- dren, Nyema Tillman, Jakoria McCullough, Iyana McCullough, Eric McCullough, Alaya McCul- lough, Aiden McCullough, Amar McCullough, Ariana McCul- lough, Camael Richardson and Cashanna Richardson; siblings, Sylvester McCullough, Jr. (Theresa), Gwendolyn Russ (Earnie), Jessie Dallas, Eddie Lee McCullough and Rosalind Woodside; aunts, Ida Mae Young, Ora Mae Green and Venibel Daughtry; uncle, Samuel McCullough, Sr.; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins; dear friends, Pamela Frances, Linsey Worthen and Clinton Blue; a host of other relatives and loving friends.
Interment will be at Bran- don Cremation & Funeral Serv- ices, 621 N. Parsons Ave., Brandon, FL 33510.
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