Page 34 - Florida Sentinel 7-30-21

Funerals/Death Notice
FAMILY NOTICE
GWENDOLYN GAIL TURK ROSE RUSSELL
A Celebration of Life Party for Gwendolyn Gail Turk Rose Rus- sell of Tampa, FL, who transi- tioned on Sunday, July 18th, will be held on Saturday, July 31st, 2021, 3 p. m., at 4242 E. Miller, Ave, Tampa, FL 33617.
All are welcome!!!
Police Investigate The Death Of Inmate
ELVIS UPSHAW
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a death investigation surroun- ding the death of an inmate. He was being housed at the Falkenburg Road Jail at the time of his death.
On July 26, 2020, 62- year-old Elvis Upshaw was discovered unresponsive after suffering a medical episode. He was transported to Bran- don Regional Hospital, where he was later pronounced de- ceased. Upshaw’s next of kin has been notified.
The cause of death has not been determined, pending the results of an examination from the Medical Examiner.
No other details are availa- ble at this time as the investi- gation is ongoing.
AIKENS
LAWSON
St. Petersburg, FL
MRS. PATRICIA JACKSON
A Homegoing Celebration for Mrs. Patricia Jackson of Tampa, Florida, who passed away on Fri- day, July 23, 2021, will be held on Saturday, July 31st, 1:00 p. m. at Hillsboro Memorial Cemetery, 2323 W. Brandon Blvd. A local minister will officiate. The inter- ment will follow.
Patricia was born January 8, 1946, in Miami, Florida. She was a member with Bethany Baptist Church, Palm River. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, movies and spending time with her family.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, John A. Ross,
and Mamie Respers; sisters, Georgia, Laura, Pearl, Addie, Lu- bertha, and Evelyn; brothers, Joe, and Charlie; grandchildren, Romello and Emjay Jackson.
She leaves to cherish: her husband, Tommy Jackson; chil- dren, Tongela Wilson (Michael), Taisha Robinson, Cedric Jackson (Charnese); stepson, Patrick Jackson (Leila); brothers, Charles, James and John, Jr.; grandchildren, Michael Jr., Mar- quis, Cedric, Jr., Jeremiah, Zoeyae, Ginairo, Zyhir and Pa- cino; great grandchildren, Mar- quis, Jr., Dajeion and Noah; sister, Verna; nieces, Gretchen, Saundra, Loetia, Meisha, Deirdre, Denise, and Janet; nephews, Antwaun, Michael, Willie, Davin, Quinton and John, Jr.; a host of cousins; special loved ones, Wilbert Ponder, Dar- rell Munn, Robert Rice, Tommy Miller, Laura DuPont, Cecelia Conyers and Vanessa Boyd.
The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Friday, July30th from4to7p.m.The family and friends are asked to meet at the graveside on Satur- day for the service. We are fol- lowing CDC guidelines.
“Aikens Funeral Home”
REV. WALTER J. WILLIAMS
Rev. Walter J. Williams, 81, of St Petersburg, FL, transitioned to his heavenly home on Friday, July 23, 2021.
Rev. Williams retired after serving 17 years of service as Pas- tor for New Mt. Zion M.B. Church in Tampa, FL.
Cherished memories he leaves to his loving wife of 62 years, Lena Green Williams; son, Larry R. Williams (Carolyn); 2 daughters, Angela Williams Surjapal (Regen- dra), and Lori Williams Atwater (widow); 3 brothers, Richard Williams (Sherry), James Williams, and Rev. Clyde Williams (Faith); sisters, Willie Jean Jones (Holley) and Queen Lamar (Mil- ton); 11 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, 1 great, great, grandchild; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Visitation is Friday, July 30, 2021, 3-7 p. m., at Lawson Funeral Home. Funeral service is Satur- day, July 31, 12 p. m. at New Mt Zion M. B. Church, 2511 E. Colum- bus Drive, Tampa, FL. Interment will be held in Woodlawn Memory Gardens, St. Petersburg, FL.
Lawson Funeral Home, St. Pe- tersburg, 727-623-9025, is han- dling services.
DEATH NOTICE
MITCHELL CHARLES CABRERA Entered into life:
February 02, 1950 Tampa, Florida
Entered into rest: July 25, 2021 Tampa, Florida
National Crime
Dad Suffers Severe Burns Saving Twin Daughters From Fire: 'I Had To Get My Babies Out'
A Michigan man rescued his baby daughters from a house fire earlier this month, suffering severe burns in the process.
A 23-year-old Ray Lucas of Eastpointe, Michigan, came home after running an errand with girlfriend Shi'Ann Brown, with whom he shares 18-month-old twin daughters Malaysia and Milan. When the couple returned, they found their house on fire, ac- cording to a GoFundMe page created for the family.
The "heroic father" then ran into the burning home "without hesitation" to retrieve the baby girls from the base- ment.
"The house was engulfed in smoke. I saw my mom and my niece were standing at the door and they were frantic," Lucas
Ray Lucas saved his two in- fant, twin daughters from a house fire while they were asleep in the basement.
told WJBK. "I just knew I had to get my babies out. That's what went through my mind. ... You really couldn't see your hand in front of your face. I re- ally only found my babies due to my memory, just knowing where they were and knowing how to get to them."
According to the fundraiser page, the father was "severely burned" in the electrical fire and "sustained 2nd and 3rd
degree burns to his face, eyes, neck, arms and other parts of his body in additional to smoke inhalation." Now, Lucas is worried that he will not be able to return to work "due to the extent of his inju- ries."
The crowd-funding des- cription also explained that "their house was completely destroyed" and "the family lost absolutely everything in the fire." As of Monday morning, over $112,000 has been raised, smashing the $40,000 goal.
Reflecting on the extent of his injuries, the dad told WJBK that he was "tempora- rily blind for three days and they said it was a miracle I could see.
"I've got burns on my arms, but for the most part, everyone is still here," he said.
Crime
FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2021 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 19-A