Page 17 - Florida Sentinel 5-2-17

Funeral
DEACON JAMES BROCK, SR.
A homegoing celebra- tion for Deacon James Brock, Sr. of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, will be held Thursday, May 4th at 10 a. m. at Aikens Fu- neral Home, 2708 E. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Rev. Tommy Brown, officiating. The interment will be in Florida National Cemetery.
Deacon James Brock, Sr. was born December 24, 1918 in Pearson, Georgia. He was a World War II Army Veteran who did combat in France.
He was preceded in death by: his wives, Tiny, Willie Bea and Grace; son- in-law, Larry Colston; granddaughter, Belinda Hills; great-grandsons, Tre- varis and Dontrel Brock.
He leaves to cherish his precious memories with: his 2 sons, James Brock, Jr. and Alfonso Brock (Linda); 2 daughters, Ellawese Brock-Colston and Vornice Spires; step-daughter, Ruthie Wright of Fort Myers, FL; a host of grand- children and great-grand- children; a host of other relatives and friends; spe- cial friends, Johnnie B. and Pastor Tommy Brown of Fort Myers, FL, Martha Wilson, Charlie Durr and Herbert Clark, all of Tampa, FL.
The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 3rd, from4p.m.to6p.m. The family and friends are asked to meet at the chapel on Thursday for the service.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
Electrical Failure Blamed For Apartment Fire
Pastor Fought Brave Fight Against Heart And Kidney Disease
Local
AIKENS
On Friday, the Hillsbor- ough County Fire Department responded to a fire at an apartment building. The fire was located at the Cordova Apartments in the 12700 block of University Club Drive.
According to officials, fire- fighters received the 9-1-1 call at 6:05 p.m., Friday. When firemen arrived at the com- plex, all of the residents had been evacuated. It took fire-
men about an hour and a half to bring the fire under control. Officials said the fire was caused by a mechanical or electrical failure in the air conditioning units of the com- plex. The American Red Cross responded to help the resi-
dents.
All eight apartments in the
building were destroyed. Two neighboring buildings were also damaged by the intense heat, officials said.
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
A local minister suc- cumbed to his battle with heart and kidney disease last Tuesday, April 25, 2017, after a brave fight.
Pastor Robert Lee Pi- rant passed away in Tampa General Hospital. He was 63 years old.
There were days when he laughed, joked, and gave or- ders for special meals he de- sired. However, there were those days when he endured pain brought on by hospital stays and other ailments.
In 1989, Pastor Pirant received a kidney transplant, receiving the kidney from his only sister, Patricia Pirant Grooms. She was among the first African-American sibling donors in this community.
He was the pastor of East- side Church of Christ, which he helped to found in March 1994 with 4 other families in the Brandon community. In 1995, his congregation se- lected him to serve as an Elder. At the time of his pass- ing, Pastor Pirant was Co- Pastor of the Nassau Street Church of Christ.
Pastor Pirant served Crime
PASTOR ROBERT LEE PIRANT
closely with several Church of Christ congregations in the community.
He attended Hillsborough Community College, Florida School of Preaching, Florida Christian College and South- ern Christian University, where he completed his B. S. degree in Human Develop- ment. He earned a Master’s degree in 2011 from American Intercontinental University (AIU).
Pastor Pirant is married to the former Carrol Denice Miller and they have 3 sons – Ben, Robert (Gene) and Michael.
Funeral services for Pas- tor Pirant are planned for Saturday, May 6, 2017, with Ray Williams Funeral Home handling arrangements.
DEATH LISTING
Aikens Funeral Home
Mrs. Minnie Judge, Tampa.
Ms. Henrietta Woodall, Tampa. Mr. Clarence Hill, Tampa.
Mrs. Sharon Simpson, Tampa. Mrs. Phyllis Murray, Tampa.
Mrs. Yvonne Royal-Peeler, Tampa.
Harmon Funeral Home
Mr. Clifton Leroy Burnett, Sr., aka “Bell,” Tampa. Mr. Wayne Gregory Jenkins, Sr., Tampa.
Mr. Curtis Eugene Thomas, Jr., aka “Geza,” Tampa.
Ms. Betty Jean Surrency Singletary, Tampa. Mrs. Bessie Walker, Plainfield, New Jersey. Deacon Earl Stanley Oliver, Tampa.
Jackson Funeral Home
Mrs Mary McDaniels, Tampa.
Ray Williams Funeral Home
Mr. James E. Brown, Tampa.
Ms. Kathy L. Bryant, Tampa.
Mr. Daniel Davis, Tampa.
Mr. Darius Harris, Tampa.
Mrs. Mildred Hayes, Tampa.
Ms. Danielle L. Long, Tampa. Pastor Robert Lee Pirant, Brandon.
Wilson Funeral Home
Mrs. Vydavis Anthony, Valrico.
Mr. Clarence Fletcher, Tampa.
Ms. Eunice Mays, Tampa.
Mr. Anthony Russell Brooks, Tampa.
Students Charged With Battery On Two Employees
The Pinellas County Sher- iff’s Office arrested three stu- dents last week. They were charged with committing bat- tery on two school employees.
According to police, at about 3 p.m., on April 18th, an employee at Seminole Middle School, 8701 131st Street, North, reported he was in- jured by two students in the hallway. Deputies reviewed the surveillance video and discovered that two employ- ees were injured during the same disruption.
Deputies said the incident began when Damond Sears, 14, caused a disrup- tion in his class. His teacher, Ms. Jacklyn Rivera, 32, told Sears to leave the room and to report to the office. Sears left the room, but re-
turned and tried to force his way back into the class.
Ms. Rivera stood in the door blocking his entry. He attacked the teacher and forced his way into the class. Students from the class phys- ically dragged him into the hall, where an altercation took place between students.
Deputies said Mark Mc- Connell, 48, a school associ- ate at the school, responded to the hall and was walking down the hall when one of Ms. Rivera’s students, Matthew Reaves, 13, al- legedly stole his keys out of his pocket. McConnell struggled with Reaves to get his keys. At that point, Jay- dan Harris, 14, is alleged to have grabbed McConnell from behind and forced Mc- Connell to the ground, caus- ing a minor injury.
Deputies arrested Sears, Reaves, and Harris at the school on April 21st. They were each charged with 1 count of battery on a School Employee.
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