Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 6-1-18

Features
Community Activist Dies After Brief Illness
Cancer Claims Life Of Popular Retired Fireman
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On May 19, 2018, Alan Dale Anderson slipped quietly away, surrounded by family and friends. He was 54-years-old. His wife, Mrs. Claire Anderson, said the cause of death was cardiac arrest, due to pancre- atic cancer.
A native of Madison County, FL and the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Early (Laura) Anderson, Alan graduated from Madison High School. He continued his education at Waldorf Col- lege, where he earned his de- gree in Fire Science.
In 1985, he joined the Hillsborough County Fire Department he retired in 2016, after becoming ill. He served for 32 years and re- tired as a Battalion Chief. His brother, Steve Anderson was a Captain with the Tampa Fire Department at the time.
Mrs. Anderson said her husband had initially gone on a medical leave, but re- tired and moved to Atlanta to be close to the center he was getting treatment for prostate cancer. He recov- ered from that battle. How- ever, when he went to the doctor a year later, the pan-
ALAN DALE ANDERSON 10/25/1963 —- 5/19/2018
creatic cancer was discov- ered.
“Teaching was his pas- sion. He was actively in- volved in the Firemen’s Explorer Program and he let teenagers know that there were other options for those who wanted a career,” she said.
He enjoyed sports, espe- cially football and basketball. Standing 6’4,” he played on the department’s basketball team. He loved jazz and the old blues songs. He loved anything cultural, and he es- pecially loved his family and friends.
The father of a blended family of six, Anderson was a guiding influence in help- ing his stepdaughter, Ms.
Juanita Benjamin become a member of the Hillsbor- ough County Fire Depart- ment. She has been employed for a year.
And for his youngest daughter, Wellyse, 17, he came from Atlanta for her prom. “It was so beautiful. They took pictures. It was just beautiful,” Mrs. Ander- son said.
Anderson died 2 days before Wellyse graduated from Tampa Bay Technical High School.
This is an especially diffi- cult time for Mrs. Ander- son. She had attended the funeral of her father, the late Virgilio Violenes, that Sat- urday. She was en route home when her husband died.
“He passed at 11:28 p.m., Saturday. I was on my way back home, but he passed be- fore I could get back from my father’s funeral. But, his chil- dren and his friends were with him,” she said.
In addition to his wife, children, and brother, Mr. Anderson is survived by his sister, Ms. Delores Ben- nett, other family members and friends.
A Memorial Service for Mr. Anderson will be held in Tampa on Saturday, June 16th.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Monday, a community activist passed after a brief ill- ness under the care of Hos- pice. Mrs. Bettye Greene Johnson was 64-years-old. Funeral services for Mrs. Greene Johnson will take place on Saturday.
Mrs. Greene Johnson
died as a result of cancer of the kidney. She was diag- nosed in April 2018, her hus- band, Don Johnson, said.
A Tampa native, Mrs. Greene Johnson was the daughter of the late David Tillmon, Sr., and the late Mrs. Vera Nash Floyd. She was raised by Mother Stella Greene.
She attended the public schools of Hillsborough County and graduated from Middleton High School in 1971. She continued her edu- cation at Hillsborough Com- munity College and through advanced studies provided by the City of Tampa.
Mrs. Greene Johnson
was employed by the City of Tampa for more than 36 years. She retired as Supervi- sor of the City of Tampa Util- ity Accounting Division.
A community activist,
Mrs. Greene Johnson
joined the City’s Black His- tory Committee and served as its President for several years. Additionally, she was active with the Woods & Wanton Chapter, Inc., of the Buffalo
MRS. BETTYE GREENE JOHNSON 12/29/1953 —- 5/28/2018
Soldiers, Allen Temple Cou- ples Ministry, organized events with the Middleton High School, Class of 1971, and other organizations.
A dedicated member of Allen Temple AME Church, Johnson said he remember stories of crawling up to the pulpit to sit in her daddy’s lap, who was a minister at the church.
Activities that brought her joy included singing, photog- raphy, journalism, computer technology, radio broadcast- ing, and shopping.
Her husband further said she also enjoyed her family, creating photo albums, and cooking.
In addition to her hus- band, Mrs. Greene John- son is survived by her children, grandchildren, other family members and friends.
PAGE 10-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2018