Page 35 - Florida Sentinel 7-31-20

Funerals/Memoriam
AIKENS
Loretta met and married, John L. Douglas known as the “insurance man,” they re- mained married until her death. This marriage produced one son, John C. Douglas (Carl).
Loretta was preceded in death by: her father, Daniel Colleton and mother, Cora Col- leton.
She is survived by: her hus- band of 45 years, John L. Dou- glas; son, John C. Douglas (Ashanti); three grandchil- dren, Brandon Douglas, Dyson Douglas and Zail Douglas; one sister, Betty Thompson (James) of Greenville, South Carolina; two brothers, Daniel Colleton of St. Petersburg, Florida, and George Colleton of Tampa, Florida; nieces, Ka- trina, Darla, Darlene and Melanie Colleton; nephews, Daryl and Gregory Thompson and Daniel Colleton, III; spe- cial thank you to the EconoPass Healthcare Agency providers, Tonya, Ana, Brooke, Justine and Samantha they were wonderful caretak- ers.
The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Friday, July 31st from 4 p. m. to 6 p. m. The family will re- ceive friends during the visita- tion.
The service will be lived streamed at www.aikensfuner- alhome.com. We are following the CDC guidelines.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
MRS. MERCEDES FIELDS
A Homegoing Celebration for Mrs. Mercedes Fields of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on Wednesday, July 15, 2020, will be held Friday, July 31st, 11 a. m. at Rest Haven Me- morial Park Cemetery, Rev. Michael Neely, officiating. The interment will follow.
Mercedes Fields was born on January 12, 1937 in Tampa, Florida, to Melissa Bell. Mrs. Fields attended public schools throughout Hillsborough County and was a 1964 gradu- ate from Middleton High School. She worked several years with Honeywell and after retirement, she contin- ued a career in her passion of cosmetology. Mrs. Fields owned several salons through- out the Tampa Bay area and was well known in the commu- nity.
And she also volunteered with the Meals on Wheels pro- gram. She was the matriarch of family gatherings and en- joyed participating in social events and activities, espe- cially BINGO and spending quality time with her grand and great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Fields has reunited with her husband, Roy Fields; mother, Melissa Bell; son, Gre- gory Fields and siblings, Mar- ion Davis and Minnie Lou Drew. She leaves to mourn: her daughters, Vera Fields, Deborah Ford (Henry), Corlis McIntyre and Helen Raines; sons, James and Moses Bevel (Justine); grandchildren, Andre and Twyla Jennings, Brittney Ford, LaJames and Jamario Clark (Deatrice), Twonisha Bryant, Ashley Knight, Tanyah Waddy, and Gregory Carlyle; one brother, Albert Bell Sr.; 14 great-grand- children; seven nieces and nephews; a host of great- nieces and nephews.
The family and friends are asked to meet at the graveside on Friday for the service. We are following the CDC guide- lines.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
REV. JEROME GRIFFIN
A Homegoing Celebration for Reverend Jerome Griffin of Tampa, Florida, who passed away Sunday, July 26, 2020, will be held on Saturday, Au- gust 1, 2020, at 11:30 a. m. at Northside M. B. Church, 5706 N. 40th Street, Rev. Ricardo Robinson pastor, with Rev. Thomas Hadden, pastor of People for Christ Ministries, officiating. The interment will be in Sunset Memory Gardens Cemetery, Thonotosassa, Florida.
Rev.Griffin was a native of Tampa, Florida, and was the Pastor of Evening StarTaber- nacle M. B. Church. He was a veteran of the United States Army. He was a great father and grandfather and enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Rev. Griffin answered God’s call to rest and to life eternal with Jesus Christ.
He was preceded in death by his wife, First Lady Mona Griffin; father, Willie Thomas; mother, Sally Thomas; and aunt, Barbara Jones.
Rev. Griffin leaves to mourn his passing: sons, Stephen Griffin, Tyrome (Dal- las) Griffin, and Jerome Du- aney (Audrey) Griffin, all of Tampa, FL; grandchildren: Delton Griffin, Roneisha Sykes, Austin Griffin, Court- ney Smith, Malik Gay, Hous- ton Griffin, Audriana Griffin, Jerome ‘D. J.’ Griffin; and seven great-grandchildren, all of Tampa, FL; sisters-in-law, Alisia (Theodore) Royal, Na- talia (Ron) McClenton, Stephanie (James) Thompson, Julie Jackson, all of Tampa, FL, Nancy Collins, Glenwood, IL, and Brenda Collins, Chicago, IL; brothers-in-law, Robert (Delores) Collins, Oak Park, IL, Michael (Sharon) Collins, Las Vegas, NV, Mark (India) Collins, Matteson, IL, Gregory (Rosalind) Collins, Las Vegas, NV, Everett (Kelly) Collins, Lynwood, IL, and Eric (Regina) Collins, Schaumburg, IL; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, ex- tended family, and the Evening Star Tabernacle M. B. Church family. The family will meet at the church on Satur- day for the service.
The service will be live streamed at www.aikensfu- neralhome.com . We are fol- lowing the CDC guidelines.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
MRS. LORETTA C. DOUGLAS
A Private Homegoing Cele- bration for Mrs. Loretta Col- leton Douglas of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on Friday, July 17, 2020, will be held Saturday, August 1st, 1:30 p. m., at Aikens Funeral Home, 2708 E. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Bro. An- tione Holloway, officiating. The interment will be held in Hillsboro Memorial Cemetery.
Loretta Colleton Douglas was born May 7, 1942, to Daniel and Cora Colleton in Charleston, South Carolina. The family relocated to Tampa, Florida in 1951. She was raised in Tampa, Florida with her sister, Betty and brothers, Daniel and George.
Loretta was baptized as a member of the Church of Christ in her childhood and was a dedicated member until her passing. She was educated in the public schools of Hills- borough County and was a graduate of Middleton Senior High School, class of 1960. Mrs. Douglas was a High Honor Roll student with a de- sire to attend college and chose an occupation that would be beneficial to both herself and others.
In 1960, she entered the prestigious Grady Memorial School of Nursing in Atlanta, Georgia. She again graduated with High Honors in 1964. Loretta returned to Tampa to begin her illustrious 45 year nursing career. She began her career at Tampa General Hos- pital, where she was amongst the few Black nurses hired at the time. Mrs. Douglas worked for Tampa General for ten years and would become the first Black Supervisor of Nurs- ing in the hospital history.
After leaving Tampa Gen- eral Hospital she served as the Administrator for Polycare, Incorporated of Lakeland, Florida. Due to travel, Loretta left this position and began working at Brandon Hospital where she served many posi- tions of management for sev- eral years.
She then left Brandon Hos- pital to serve as Head of Edu- cation and Infection at South Florida Baptist Hospital. After a brief stint at Doctors Hospi- tal, she ended her career in 2008 as the Nighttime Charge Nurse of the ER at Brandon Hospital.
MR. ROOSEVELT (‘BUDDY’) BENNETT
A Private Homegoing Serv- ice for Mr. Roosevelt Bennett “Buddy,” who passed away on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, will be held on Saturday, August 1st, 3:30 p. m. at Aikens Funeral Home, 2708 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Pastor Calvin Green, officiating. The interment will follow.
Roosevelt Bennett was born March 8, 1939 in Ridgeville, South Carolina, to the late Lou Bennett and Stella Bunch Bennett. He attended and graduated from Dorch- ester County Schools in South Carolina. Roosevelt was re- tired from Dial Corporation after 36 years of employment.
He was a member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church, the late Elder Eddie Newkirk was the pastor at the time. He enjoyed singing and recording music.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; brother, Joe Wright; and sisters, Louise Mae Duberry and Emily Snipes.
He leaves to cherish memo- ries: his children, Curtis Lewis Bennett, Gregg Bennett, Dar- lene Bennett Martin (Carl), Darnell Bennett and Eric Ben- nett (Helen); mother of his children and former wife, Effie Jean Bennett; grandchildren, Shacondra Melton, Antwaun Maurice Melton, Ambreia Pee- bles (Leonard), Nakeisha Ben- nett, Eric Bennett, Jr., Shaniqua Bennett, Ebony Ben- nett and Terrell Bennett; great grandchildren, U’Rian Davis, Jalaun Patterson, Malaya Melton, Kennedy Peebles, Jakira Bennett, Saniya, Lyric, and Londyn Johnson, Skylar and Marquise Swilley and Nicholas Hunt; nieces, Marlo Tucker (Howard), Harriett Middleton (Sammy), Simen- thia Tucker (Ronald), Johnnie Mae Bunch and Debbie Sim- mons; nephews, Terry Snipes and Michael Snipes (Molly); and a host of other sorrowing relatives and friends.
The visitation will be held on Friday, July 31st from 3-5 p. m. The family will meet on Sat- urday for the service. The serv- ice will be live streamed at www.aikensfuneralhome.com
. We are following the CDC guidelines.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
WILLIE JAMES BELLAMY 01/17/1947 --- 08/03/2019
Sadly missed along life’s way; quietly remem- bered every day.
No longer in our lives to share; but in our hearts, you’ll always be there.
Your loving wife, Joyce Bellamy; children, Latar- cha, Temeka, and Rochanda; grandchildren, family, and friends.
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