Page 11 - Florida Sentinel 4-3-20

Local
Popular Tampa Woman Passes After Long Illness
Ms. Doris Donnell Cannon passed away after a long illness. She was born Doris Ann Young to the late Charles H. Young and Ailene Grace Walker Young, and raised near Palm Avenue and Highland Avenue, in what is now called the Ulele Springs area.
Doris attended public schools in Hillsborough County and graduated from Howard W. Blake, class of 1961. She held various and supervisory positions with the Hillsborough County Transportation Department and retired after 33 years.
Doris was very socially and politically active on local and state levels. She attended the inauguration of Presi- dent Bill Clinton with the late Geraldine Barnes.
While at the White House she even entered restricted areas without being stopped. Later, White House security stated that she carried herself with such class that they thought she was someone important. During this trip to the White House she met and talked with the American poet Maya Angelou.
Doris had such a very friendly and outgoing per- sonality that many politicians asked her to host their fundraising events. She held what she coined Chat and Chew parties in her backyard and hosted the likes of for- mer Governor Lawton Chiles, the late Judge Harry Coe, county commis- sioner candidate Phyllis Busanski, mayoral candi- date Sandy Freedman,
MS. DORIS DONNELL CANNON Sunrise: April 15, 1943 Sundown: March 27, 2020
and mayoral candidate Bob Buckhorn, to name a few.
Doris has been recog- nized on numerous occasions by numerous organizations for her involvement in the community.
Doris was a great matri-
arch for her family and known for her passion for helping others. She loved to swing dance and even con- vinced her mate, Ronald, to take lessons at the Bay City Lodge #268. She enjoyed the lodge so much that she later created a group called Purple Passion, which later became known as the Purple Passion Line Dancers. That organiza- tion was set out to help the community as well as other people.
She initiated the first book drive for Mount Pleas- ant Charter School, now known as Legacy Prep, as well as many other fundrais- ing events, including the lung transplant for the beloved Adrian White.
Doris was a small busi- ness owner of the Friendly
Fish Market, known for its fried crabs. The business will continue to be run by her daughters. She was a mem- ber of and baptized at Beulah Baptist Church. She loved to cook and loved her tropical plants. Over the years she held numerous theme parties and dances with lots and lots of food. In fact, she would give a party for friends and family and anyone who needed to raise money.
She proudly raised 4 dis- tinguished daughters, Donia, Cynthia Michele, Gisele, Christa, and re- cently celebrated 45 years with her life partner, Ronald Crumbley.
Doris lived a full and fan- ciful life. She was loved and adored by many and will be sadly missed.
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