Page 29 - 8-7-15 Friday's Edition Updated

Funerals
AIKENS
GARDEN OF MEMORIES
GUDES
HARMON
MR. WALTER LEE GIBBONS ‘DIRK’
Homegoing services for Mr. Walter Lee Gibbons “Dirk” of Tampa, who passed away Friday, July 24, 2015, will be held Saturday, August 8, 2015, at 11 a. m. at Rivers of Life Church Ministries, 301 N. Lakewood, Brandon, FL, Rev. Curtis A. Swafford, pastor, with Rev. Michael McDaniels, officiating and Minister Walter Duane Gib- bons, eulogist. The interment will follow.
Walter was born on Octo- ber 13, 1928, to the late Abra- ham and Minnie Lee Gibbons in Tampa, and was reared in Ybor City. He attended Mid- dleton High School and was a former Negro Baseball League pitcher.
In 1943, he was the pitcher for the Pepsi Cola Juniors, the Pepsi Cola Giants in 1944, and the Tampa Rockets in 1945, until he was called to play in the Negro League.
Walter first played in the Negro League with Indi- anapolis and Baltimore (1946-1949), and went on to play in Canada as a pitcher in the ManDak League for the Brandon Grays (1949-1950). While playing in Canada he picked up the nickname “Bubble Gum,” because he would chew gum and blow bubbles while on the mound. He had a remarkable 1949 season: he won 19, lost 5 and had 229 strikeouts.
Walter was drafted in the 1950s into the U. S. Army and served in the Korean War (1950-1953) on the 3rd In- fantry Division based out of Ft. Riley in Kansas.
After his service ended he returned to Manitoba, Canada, to play baseball with the Winnipeg Giants in 1953.
He returned to Brandon Grays in ManDak, Canada in 1954, and finally the Minot Mallards of North Dakota, Canada (1955-1957).
In the 1990s, he was hon- ored at a Tampa Bay Rays’ game and threw the opening pitch.
Walter is in the Negro League Baseball Hall of Fame in Kansas City, and in June of
2006, he was inducted into the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame in Canada.
In 2009 the Major League Baseball association held a “Mock Draft” in Orlando at the Wide World of Sports Arena and each MLB team drafted a Negro League Base- ball player. The Tampa Bay Rays drafted Walter Lee Gib- bons “Dirk.”
Walter was a longtime em- ployee with the University of Tampa and was currently employed at the time of his passing.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; brothers, Henry and John Gibbons; niece, Vida Cole; and his dear son, Jorge Ricardo “Ricky” Gibbons.
He leaves to cherish his memories: daughter, Celeste Charise Gibbons-Peoples (husband, Jeff); son, Walter Duane Gibbons (wife, Cheryl); grandchildren, Gino Penalver Gibbons (fiancée, Jenna), Garrett Douglas Gib- bons, and Terrell and Chris Peoples; great grandson, Calvin Peoples; sister-in-law, Idella Tyler; special daugh- ter, Loretta Bethea; former spouse of 29 years, mother of his children and devoted friend forever, Agustina Pe- nalver Gibbons; cousins, Romeo Cole, Olga-Villada Barnes, Alfred Barnes, III, Zane L. V. Barnes, Mercedes Grey, Arturo Villada, Jr., Loretta Cunningham, Dalia Planchett, Evelio Penalver, Betty Brooks, Julie Swain, Onelia Hammond-Whitlow, Larry Planchett, Rhonda Robinson, and Hattie Robin- son; friends and co-workers, Jerome Fulton, Henry Henly, Billy Reed, Clifford Brown, Raydell “Bo” Maddox, Clif- ford Robinson, Neil and Carol Armstrong, Walter and Ronald Bethea, Ezell Carneige, Leon and Sharon Rolle, and the Young family.
A very special acknowl- edgement to: Pastor Curtis A. Swafford, Rivers of Life Church family; Spring Hill MB Church, Pastor Eugene Garnett; and the City of Tampa Purchasing Dept., the University of Tampa family, the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame, Tampa Bay Rays, the staff at TGH, St. Joseph, Manor Care Rehab Center, Melech Hospice Autum Team, and Aikens Funeral Home; and a host of other family and friends.
The visitation will be held at Aikens Funeral Home on Friday, August 7, 2015, from 5-8 p. m. The family will re- ceive friends from 5-6 p. m.
The friends and family are asked to meet at the church at 10:45 a. m. Saturday for the service.
AIKENS FUNERAL HOME
MRS. SANDRA DEBOSE
A memorial service for Mrs. Sandra Debose of Tampa, who passed away Wednesday, July 29, 2015, will be held Saturday, August 8, 2015, at 2 p. m. at Cathe- dral of Faith Church, 6304 N. 30th Street, Apostle James H Howell, officiating.
Mrs. Sandra J. Debose was born in Tampa, to Samuel Barr and the late Emogene Barr Newell.
She was educated in the Hillsborough County School System. She was a faithful member of Cathedral of Faith Church.
Her passion was cooking, playing racquetball, making people laugh, and socializing with friends. She enjoyed feeding the homeless, being a greeter for the Prison Min- istry, visiting the sick and shut-ins, and being a part of the Angel Of Change.
Sandra was preceded in death by: her mother, Emo- gene Barr Newell; her grand- parents, Henry C. and Florence Thomas; a sister, Barbara Jean Barr; 3 broth- ers, Samuel, Ronald and Donald Barr; a grandson, Larry Walls, III; and a grand- daughter, Lacaiah Walls.
She leaves to cherish her precious memories with: her father, Samuel Barr (Mar- jorie); 2 sons, Antonio De- bose (Barbara), and Larry Wall; a niece she raised, Bar- bara Barr; 3 brothers, Willie L. Barr, Samuel Barr, Jr., and Theodus Barr, all of Miami, FL; 8 sisters, Gwen- dolyn Jones, Almeta Butler, Sylvia Barr and Deborah Barr, all of Tampa, and Theresa Coleman, Priscilla Jones, Deborah Barr and Pa- tricia Barr, all of Miami, FL; like sisters, Wanda Mota, Miami, FL, and Tina Farr, Tampa; 10 grandchildren, Iesha, Antonio, Lawanda, Laraiah, Jawanda, Edward, DeMarcus, Calvin, Dayja, and Arielle; 3 great grand- children, Armani, Anthony and Samiya; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
The family and friends are asked to meet at the church on Saturday for the memo- rial service.
GARDEN OF MEMORIES FUNERAL HOME in charge of arrangements.
MRS. EVA INEZ HOWARD
A homegoing celebration for Mrs. Eva Inez Howard, who passed away on July 31, 2015, will be held Saturday, August 8,2015, at 11 a. m. at Covenant Catalytic Church, 6212 N. 47th Street, Min. Jacqueline Marshall, officiat- ing. Interment will follow at Rest Heaven Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Howard was pre- ceded in death by: her hus- band, Samuel Howard, Sr.; father, Sam Simmons; sons, Ray, Sr. and God Lucky Howard; daughters, Priscilla and Anna Howard; brother, Willie Simmons; sister, Eu- nice Hill Fortson; grandsons, Lonnie Johnson and Edward Howard, Jr.; granddaughter, Leoloa Johnson; nieces, Sylvia Mann and Tenesa Hill; and nephews, Kem Simmons and James Fortson.
She leaves to cherish her memories: 6 loving children including, daughters, Simuel Cotten, Cheyenne Johnson and Cookie White, and sons, Simuel, Jr., and Raymond (Barbara), Edward, Sr.; daughter-in-law, Margaret Howard; grandchildren, Eva Murray, Sonia Jones (Vin- cent), Larry Cotton, Jr., An- tonio Cotten, Kasla Williams, Richard Cotton (LaSonya), Katie Young (OJ), Arkeshia Cotten, William Johnson, Jr., Johnny Johnson, Jr., Delvaughn Johnson, Freder- ica Caldwell, Ronald Gilmore, Ray Howard, Jr., Waitus Howard, Adrian Howard (Brittney), Marcus Howard, Miranda Howard, Dominique Howard, Keith White, Antroy White, Ka- trena Mitchell, Santonio Simmons, John Simmons, Jr., Tiarra Simmons, DeAn- dre Lopez, Denzel Simmons, Desmond Simmons, Ber- shawn Howard, Simethia Howard, III, Damian Jones, Anitress Howard, Bri Howard and Emily Howard; nieces, Tonia Hill, Queaster McCary, Alvaelinda Marshall (Tony), Bonnie Sue Simmons and Patricia Simmons; and nephews, Benjamin Sim- mons, Milton Simmons, Leon Fortson, Nathaniel Fortson, Michael Fortson, Gaines Hill, Jr., Tommy Hill and Willie C. Simmons.
The viewing will be held on Friday, August 7, 2015, from 5-7 p. m. at Gudes Funeral Home Chapel, 4050 E. Hills- borough Ave.
Family and friends are asked to meet at the church on Saturday at 10:45 a. m.
Gudes Funeral Home “A TEMPLE OF SERVICE”
www.gudesfuneral- home.net
MRS. INES RUSSELL DUCHINE
Homegoing services for Mrs. Ines Russell Duchine, who departed this earthly life on Saturday, August 1, 2015, will be held Saturday, August 8, 2015, at 11 a. m. at Harmon Funeral Home, 5002 North 40th Street, Tampa, 33610, with Pastor Otis B. Cooper, New Rising Star M. B. Church, officiating. Inter- ment will be made in Rest Haven Memorial Park Ceme- tery.
Mrs. Ines Russell Duchine was born October 18, 1930, to the late Reverend Johnnie M. Russell and Mrs. Essie Smelling of Tampa.
She obtained her RN De- gree in New York City, New York. Mrs. Duchine worked as a RN and beautician until she retired. After retirement, she moved to Florida, and re- mained until her death.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, Rev. Johnnie M. Russell and Essie Smelling; brother, Joe Russell; sisters, Mayola Walker and Francine Russell; and maternal grand- mother, Anna Sligh.
Those left behind to cher- ish her loving memories are: six brothers, Thomas (Leola) Russell, John L. Russell, Carl Russell, Rondal (Vergina) Russell, Gregory (Benita) Russell, and Daniel Russell; three sisters, Lorraine (Alphonso) Simmons, Dorothy Young, and Beverly White; eleven nieces, Tonya Russell, Timee’ (Oren) Den- son, Tamala Russell, Mary Russell, Sonya (Harry) Nico- las, Alva Simmons, Crystal Simmons, Regina (Reginald) Williams, Trysha (Anthony) Brown, Tammi (Tyrone) Fisher, and Asha Walker; fourteen nephews, TeRodney (Velecia) Russell, Thomas Russell, Jr., Tavonte Russell, Chad Simmons, Gerald (Tonya) Russell, Jonathan Russell, Hubert Richardson, Herbert Richardson, Tyrone Gilbert, Keith (Anna) Muhammad, Carlton Russell, Rondal (Ashley) Russell, II, Alex Russell and Gregory Russell, II; great nieces and nephews; two aunts, Lula Bing and Emma Rice; cousins, the Rice, Walton, Weston, Jackson, Cato, Ja- cobs, Williams, Martin, Russ, and Gordon families; a spe- cial friend, Charlotte Love; loving friend, Sarah Watts; and a host of other friends.
Friends may visit Friday evening, August 7, 2015, from 5-8 p. m. at Harmon Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6-7 p. m. The processional at the Chapel will assemble at 10:45 a. m.
A HARMON BURIAL
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