Page 31 - Florida Sentinel 12-13-19

Funerals/Cards Of Thanks
AIKENS
HARMON
MRS. MAMIE LEE BANKS ATWATER “Munchie”
A Homegoing Celebration for Mrs. Mamie Lee Banks At- water “Munchie,” of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on Thursday, December 5, 2019, will be held Saturday, Decem- ber 14th, 11 a.m., at New Bethel Progressive Mission- ary Baptist Church, 2914 E. North Bay Street, Pastor Reginal T. Webb, officiating. The interment will be held in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mamie was born May 25, 1931, in Tifton, Georgia, to the late J. W. and Viola Phillips. She was a member of New Bethel Progressive Missionary Baptist Church.
She enjoyed singing and spending time with her fam- ily. Mamie also participated in street ministry, visiting nursing homes and prisons spreading the good news of the Lord.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, husband, James Atwater; son, and John W. Edwards, Jr.
She leaves to cherish her precious memories with her 5 children, Ceola Batts, Henry Edwards (Barbara), Ben Edwards, Donaldson Ed- wards (Barbara), and Shirley Edwards; and goddaughter, Cynthia Galloway; 32 grand- children; 82 great-grandchil- dren; 52 great-great grandchildren; brother, Gre- gory Bruce (Odessa); sisters, Bernice Washington (David) and Ola Mae Kimbrough (Bil- lie); aunt, Rusha Lindsey; sis- ter-in-law, Mary Bruce and brother-in-law, Ed Bailey; a host of other relatives and friends that will miss her.
The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Friday, December 13th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The family and friends are asked to meet at the church on Saturday for the service.
“AIKENS FUNERAL HOME”
MR. RUDOLPH BELL “RUDY”
A Homegoing Celebration for Mr. Rudolph Bell, “Rudy,” of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on Thursday, December 5, 2019, will be held on Saturday, December 14th, 11:00 a.m., at Greater Mt. Carmel A.M.E. Church, 4209 N. 34th Street, with Rev. Bryant Faison, officiating.
The interment will be in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Rudolph Bell, affec- tionately known as “Rudy,” was born in Tampa, Florida, on May 15, 1933. He lived his entire life here with family and friends. He had special needs from birth and after the death of his parents, his sister, Mrs. Verdell Rodgers, became his permanent care- giver.
He was a faithful member of Greater Mt. Carmel A.M.E. Church from childhood, with perfect attendance, until de- bilitating illnesses prevented his presence.
He also enjoyed attending New Orleans Adult Day Care for ten years.
Rudy was preceded in death by: his parents, Aster and Leola Bell, five brothers and two sisters.
He leaves to cherish his fond and loving memories with: his sister and caregiver for more than 60 years, Verdell Rodgers (Ernest) with a host of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins near and far.
The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Friday, December 13th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The family and friends are asked to meet at the church on Saturday for the service.
“AIKENS FUNERAL HOME”
MR. SHERROD NICHOLAS HUNTER
A Homegoing Celebration for Mr. Sherrod Nicholas Hunter, of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on Friday, December 6, 2019, will be held on Saturday, December 14th, 2:00 p.m. at Aikens Fu- neral Home Chapel, Rev. Dr. Delores J. Cain, officiating. The interment will follow.
Sherrod Nicholas Hunter was born September 6, 1978, in Tampa, FL, to the late Bernard Hunter and Mar- garet Fulton. He also resided in Pennsylvania and Texas for some time.
Sherrod was the youngest of five siblings, but consid- ered himself an older brother to his twin sister, Sherrida Hunter, even though he was only two minutes older.
Sherrod considered him- self a pool shark. Everyone knew he was “fire” on the table. His dream was to start a league and play in a big pool televised competition. He gave life lessons and words of wisdom to anyone that would listen. He was loved by all. He would find a way to put a smile on your face.
He unconditionally loved his family and wanted to be a protector over everyone. Sherrod was preceded in death by: his father Bernard C. Hunter.
He leaves to cherish his memories: a devoted mother, Margaret Fulton; siblings, 2 sisters, Fredrita Blanks and Sherrida Hunter; 3 brothers, Herman Fulton, Horatio Ful- ton (Ashley) and Daryl Grant (Linda); 3 aunts, Rose Bain (Lenny), Nettie Todd and Teretha Tribute; 2 uncles, Sherman Hunter (Gloria), and Herman Hunter; 1 niece, Arianna Jumpe; 2 nephews, Nosiah Fulton and Shawn Blanks; cousins, Bridget, Tonya, Elviko, Coley, Deelores, Selecia, Sonia, Shamika and Shawn; godsis- ters: Alexis and Sharita; god- brother, Xavier; godson: Emilio Sherrod Serrano; close friends, Jose, Jade, Amy Q and Vanessa.
Close family friends: Ms. Barbara, Ms. Debra and Mr. Wade, and a host of other sor- rowing relatives, family and friends.
A special thank you to Rev. Dr. Delores J. Cain and The Heritage Family. The vis- itation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Friday, De- cember 13th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. The family and friends are asked to meet at the chapel on Saturday for the service.
“AIKENS FUNERAL HOME”
SISTER CASTELLA VERNETTE COOPER
A Homegoing Service to celebrate the life of Sis. Castella Vernette Cooper, who passed away on Decem- ber 7, 2019, will be held Sun- day, December 15, 2019, at 1 p.m., at Mount Calvary Sev- enth-Day Adventist Church, 4902 North 40th Street Tampa, Florida, 33610, with Pastor Curtis Crider, officiat- ing. Interment will be made in Garden of Memories.
Sis. Castella Vernette Cooper was a native of Tampa, Florida. She was the youngest of her siblings. She attended the Lomax Elemen- tary School and graduated from Middleton High School. She received a schol- arship to attend Bethune Cookman College, and ma- jored in Education to be- come a teacher. After attending college for two years, Mr. Robert Cooper proposed marriage and she accepted.
Later, she trained as a secretary and worked for the Hillsborough County School Board for many years. From the training she received from her mother, Daisy Saunders, she became a vo- calist, sharing her talent pri- marily with her church. She loved the LORD and many times would share the LORD with those she met.
Sister Castella V. Cooper will be greatly missed by a host of family and friends.
She was preceded in death by 2 oldest children, Andrea Patricia Cooper Red- dick, and Robert Cooper, Jr.; siblings, Paul Saunders, Sr., Everette Saunders, Lovell Saunders, Jr., and Cloretha Saunders-Sheffield; 1 nephew, Danny Sheffield; and great nephew, Paul Saunders, Jr.
She leaves to cherish her memory: her children, Ronald Cooper; two daugh- ters, Janice Cooper May- wether (Alvin), and Paulette Cooper; 1 daughter-in-law, Cathye Cooper; 7 grandchil- dren, Rana Cooper, Rhonda (Cooper), Margrea Cooper, Niguel Cooper, Blair Cooper, Jake Powell, III, and Stephanie Stevens; 1 nephew, Dwight Sheffield; nieces, Alva, Stacey, Deloris, Denise and Darlene; a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, good friends and fellow church members.
The viewing will begin at 11 a.m., on Sunday at the church. The assembling of family and friends will begin at 12:45 p.m.
MR. JOHN (BO BO) NORTON
A Homegoing celebration for Mr. John (Bo Bo) Norton, who passed away November 26, 2019, will be held Satur- day, December 14, 2019 at 11 a. m., at Harmon Funeral Home, 5002 N. 40th St., Tampa, FL, 33610, with Apos- tle Otis Cooper, II, New Ris- ing Star Ministries, officiating. Interment will fol- low in Rest Haven Memorial Park.
Mr. John Norton was born May 3, 1928, in Lloyd, Florida, to the late Amos and Mary Norton.
He was preceded in death by: his wife, Katie Mae Nor- ton; daughters, Darlene Stan- ley, Deborah Brown, and Margaret Stewart; sons: Johnnie Norton, Alphonso Norton, Willie James Norton, and Willie Williams; grand- son: Sherwin Broadnex; sis- ters, Essie Mae, Ellas Lee, Annie Bee and Ella Mae; and brothers Raymond, Willie, Ora and George Norton.
He is survived by: 2 daughters, Catherine Norton and Brenda McClendon; 3 sons, Samuel Norton, Truemell Norton, and Aviv Norton; grandchildren, Jovonne Norton, Johnny Bai- ley, III, Jontana Bailey, Jolena Bailey, and Jontrell Bailey, Kenitra Hunter, Kat- rina Sheppard, Kelvin Hunter, Yolanda Sheppard, William Williams, Matthew Brown, Emanuel Brown, Shannon Brown, Anjelica Brown (Herzog), Dwight Hankerson, Jennifer McClen- don, LaQuen McClendon, David Williams, Roytaner Williams, Alphonso Stewart, Jr., Eugene Stewart, Samuel Norton, Jr., Latrenette Nor- ton, Truemelia Norton, Tremaine Jones, Tamera Norton, Malik Norton, Kaytron Norton, Ladeisha Norton, Lineisha Norton, and a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
Visitation for Mr. John Norton will be held this Fri- day evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Harmon Funeral Home. The assembly of family and friends will be at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday.
A Harmon Burial.
THANK YOU
RUBY McDOWELL
The family of Ruby Mc- Dowell thanks you for your kind expressions of sympa- thy and thoughtfulness. It is deeply appreciated.
CARD OF
THANKS
ERNEST VEREEN, SR.
The family thanks everyone for their prayers, support, and acts of kind- ness for the homegoing of Ernest Vereen, Sr., on No- vember 30, 2019. A correc- tion of the spelling of the daughter’s name is Jaziah Vereen.
A Harmon Burial
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2019 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 19-A