Page 29 - Florida Sentinel 12-1-17

Funerals/Card Of Thanks
RAY WILLIAMS
MRS. MERITHA MICHELLE BENNEFIELD
Meritha Michelle Bennefield of Tampa passed away, Sunday, No- vember 19, 2017. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, Decem- ber 2nd, at 11 a. m. at College Hill Church of God in Christ, 6414 N. 30th Street, with Superintendent Charles Davis, Pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery.
Meritha Michelle Bennefield, “Rita” as she was affectionately known, was the second of three sib- lings, born September 26, 1965, in Tampa Florida, to the late Eddie C. Marshall and Shirley A. Grimsley. She was a graduate of Tampa Bay Vo- cational Technical High School, Class of 1983. Meritha worked for Hills- borough County School District be- ginning as a bus driver and within a 2-year period advanced to an Admin- istrative Assistant at the Velasco Cen- ter. Rita worked until she was medically retired.
She enjoyed traveling, shopping, cooking, baking, entertaining, and spending time with her family. Rita met Gray “Buddy” Bennefield while in Junior High School and they quickly became sweethearts and their courtship led to marriage on July 2, 1988. Rita and Buddy were soul mates for over 40 years and Buddy was a very devoted husband who pledged his love to Rita in both sickness and in health. To their union
three children were born, Antonio, Antwuan, and Arielle.
Meritha “Rita” Bennefield leaves to cherish her loving and fond mem- ories: a devoted husband of 29 years, Gray “Buddy” Bennefield; children, Antonio R. Bennefield, Antwuan D. Bennefield and Arielle L. Daniel (Rakeli); 9 grandchildren, Anthony Bennefield, Ja’ Shaun Bennefield, Ja- marius Bennefield, Rakeli Daniel, Jr., Anto’Nyshia Bennefield, Raki Daniel, Antonio Bennefield, Jr., Ra’Kiya Daniel, all of Tampa, FL; and Devon Bennefield of Orange Park, FL; grandmother, Effie Grimsley, Montgomery, AL; sisters, Tracey Marshall, NE, MD and Nicole Hin- nant, Hilton Head, SC; brothers, Sam Grimsley, NE, MD, Otha Grimsley, Tampa, FL, Andrew Grimsley, At- lanta, GA, and Michael Johnson, Miami, FL; sister-in-law, Richardean Watson (Dewey), Sabrina Bennefield and Cynthia Bennefield, Tampa; brother-in-law, Leartis Bennefield, Tampa; nieces, Zenobia Lynch, Javita Woods, Sierra Wallace, Alysa Grimsley, Tampa; Kiara Stevenson (Aaron), Pensacola, FL; Adrianna Grimsley, Colorado Springs, CO; nephews, Joseph Woods, Jr., Tampa, and Antonio Grimsley, Col- orado Springs, CO; aunts, Leola Shellman, Essie Coleman, Catherine Soarrey and Jacquelyn Gilbert, all of Tampa, FL, Mable Grimsley, Beverly Hairston, AL, Margaret Kelly, Evelyn Daniel and Annie Walker, Tampa; uncles, Wilmon Walker (Lillie), Wal- lace Grimsley, Tampa, Gregory Grim- sley (Francine), Pensacola, FL, and Wallace Grimsley, Tampa; devoted family members, Calvin Coleman, Jr., S. Maria Bell-Coleman, Michelle Coleman, Greg Soarrey, Sr., (Sheila), Alicia Shellman, Arthur Shellman, Jr., Thomas Walker (Vivian), John Ponder (Precious) Von Watson (Danielle), Darryl Jones (Maeor- drie), Tampa, Johnny Gilbert (Bev- erly), Silver Springs, MD; very devoted friends, Annissia “Niecey” Gaines, Sylvia Wilson and Danette Mays-Moment; and a host of griev- ing family and friends.
The remains will repose after 5 p. m. Friday, December 1st, at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MRS. MARY L. CHESTER
Mrs. Mary L. Chester of Tampa, passed away on Thurs- day, November 23, 2017. Fu- neral services will be conducted on Saturday, December 2, at 10 a. m. at Mount Tabor Mission- ary Baptist Church, 2606 W. Grace Street, with Pastor T. D. Leonard, officiating. Interment will be held Monday, December 4, 2017 at Lang Memorial Ceme- tery, Brooksville, FL.
Mrs. Chester was a native of Valdosta, GA and a resident of Tampa for over 77 years. She at- tended the School District of Lowndes County, Georgia Schools and was employed at the Colonnade, Old Madison Restaurants, Maas Brothers, Stokely Van Camp Canning Plant and Winn Dixie.
Mrs. Chester was preceded in death by: her husband, Harry Chester, Sr.; and children, Mary Sumbry, Robert Sumbry, Harry Chester, Jr. and Bennie Mac Chester.
Mary leaves to cherish her memory: daughters, Juanita Ford of St. Petersburg, FL, Jackie Lewis (James) of Tampa, Margaret Ross of Tampa, Har- riet Watkins of Ruskin, FL, Eve- lyn Henderson of Brooksville, FL and Alice Holden (Ollice) of Locust Grove, GA, Jernice Mar- tin of Brooksville, FL, and Hazel Hampton of Austell, GA; sons, Leon Chester (Yun) of Miami, FL, Eric Chester of Brandon, FL; and sister, Mar- garet Williams of Tampa; grandchildren, Arnold Joyner (Jane), Robert Joyner, Judy and Jennifer Ford, Vicki, Valerie and James Lewis, III (Brid- gette), Sylvia Helms (Marvin), Felisha Chester, Leon Chester, Jr. (Carina), Brian Chester (Carolyn), Michael Chester, Erica Solomon (Demetric), Corey Jones, Frank Anderson (Sheena), Matthew Wiley, Danielle Chester, Helen John- son (Perry), Anthony Chester (Kathy), Bernell Chester, Kathy Anderson (Clarence), Christine Anderson, Millie Green, Harry Chester, III, Jernice Gandy (Robert), Arthur Chester and George Chester; 49 great-grand- children; a loving niece, Hattie Bowers; and a host of sorrowing cousins and friends.
At her home, you were al- ways welcome. Visitors could never stay too long. Mary loved to cook and feed her family and friends.
The remains will repose after 5 p. m. Friday, December 1st, at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Ave., and the family will receive friends from 6 - 7 p. m. at the Chapel.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MR. JERRY DONNELL HARRISON
Mr. Jerry Donnell Harrison of Tampa passed away Monday, November 27, 2017. Funeral services will be conducted Satur- day, December 2nd, at 2 p. m. at St. John Cathedral Church, 3401 E. 25th Avenue, Senior Pastor Dwight Newkirk, with Pastor D. C. Jones, officiating. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memo- rial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Harrison was a native of Swainsboro, Georgia and a resi- dent of Tampa for many years. He attended the public schools of Hillsborough County and was a graduate of King High School. Mr. Harrison was employed as a Truck Driver.
He was preceded in death by: his mother, Effie Harrison; brothers, Johnny James Harri- son and Charles Harrison.
Mr. Harrison leaves to cher- ish his memory: wife, Barbara Harrison; children, Katina James (Frank), Jerry Harrison (Gene’l), Katie Mitchell (James), DeAndra Hamilton (Rosson), Le’Anthius James Harrison and William Harrison; granddaugh- ters, Ambreia Champian, Jailyn Harrison, Mariah Acree, Ashley Green, Jordayn Johnson, McKenzie Johnson, Willow Har- rison, Jaely Mitchell, and Adri- ana Mitchell; grandsons, Jerry Harrison, Jr., Jamarcus Harri- son, Jaquan Harrison, Javaun Harrison, Jordan Acree, Tyriq James, DeAndre Hamilton, Micah Johnson, Daniel Hamil- ton and Dallas Hamilton; great grandsons, Jamarcus Harrison, Jr. and Javion Harrison; great granddaughter, Ja’Neva Harri- son; father, Johnnie Harrison; brother, George Oglesby (Frankie); sisters, Wilhelmenia Robinson, Katie Harrison and Mary Sawyer; sisters and broth- ers-in-law, Tommy Hill, Willie Hill (Jessie), James (Marchelle), Bertha (Jimmy) Hicks, Grace (Lee), Traylor, Donnise, (Christopher) Norman; two de- voted nieces, Tonya Bulmer and Shonta Oglesby; and a host of uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.
The remains will repose after 5 p. m. Friday, December 1st, at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
FLORIDA MORTUARY
MR. ROBERT (TRICK) WHITE
A Homegoing Celebration will be held for Mr. Robert “Trick” White Saturday, December 2, 2017 at 2 p. m. at Florida Mortu- ary Funeral Services, 4601 N. Ne- braska Ave., Tampa, FL 33603. Interment will be made in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery, 4615 E. Hanna Ave., Tampa, FL 33610.
Robert White was born Sep- tember 25, 1953 in Eufaula, Ala- bama and moved to Florida in 1957.
He is preceded in death by: his parents, Virgina Griffin (Authur Griffin) and the late Walter Perry; grandparents; and brother, Cur- tis Griffin.
He leaves to cherish his mem- ory and is survived by: his 4 chil- dren, Victoria White, Maiah White, Isaiah White, SirRina White; and 5 grandkids; also sur- vived by his father, Authur Grif- fin: sisters, Mary Pearson (Johnny) and Catherine Cannon (Leroy/deceased); a host of aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other relatives and friends; longtime friend, Lisa Jones.
Robert enjoyed spending time with his family and grandkids; he also enjoyed playing pool, watch- ing football and going fishing.
Friends are asked to assemble at the chapel on Saturday at ap- proximately 2 p. m. for the serv- ice.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
RAYNELL GAINEY, SR.
Words cannot express our appreciation for all of your condo- lences, prayers, floral tributes, food and all expressions of kind- ness during my bereavement of the loss of my husband, Raynell Gainey, Sr. My prayer is that God may continue to bless you richly in thought and deed.
Special thanks to College Hill COGIC, Sol Davis Printing Com- pany, Konan’s BBQ, Spring of Life COGIC, and Pleasant Chapel AME.
Again, I’m humble and grateful. Regina Gainey and family.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2017 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 19-A