Page 32 - Florida Sentinel 10-30-15 Edition

Local
Minister Who Hosted Women’s Conferences Passes
Murder Victim Was Father Of Four
Prophetess Ruthie B. Jones was passionate about the women’s conferences she hosted annually at her church, Light of the World Deliverance Church.
So passionate was she about the conferences until she has hosted them during the month of February for the past 25 years.
She invited some of the best women speakers from around the country to come to Tampa for the conferences that lasted several days. She hosted confer- ences between Georgia and
Florida.
Prophet- ess Jones passed away last week after battling cancer.
The ‘First
Lady’ of Light
of the World
Deliverance
Church, currently located at 4701 N. 15th St., Prophetess Jones was the co-founder of the church in 1980, along with her husband, Apostle Johnny L. Jones, Sr. She was also co-
founder of Light of the World Deliverance Daycare, located at the church.
According to her family, Prophetess Jones dedicated her life to the Lord at the age of 16 and ministered in over 40 states, being led and guided by the Holy Spirit.
She was anointed to sing and traveled with many popular gospel singers.
Funeral Services for Prophetess Jones will be held on Saturday at Middleton High School Auditorium (See Funeral Notices).
Last Saturday morning, 30- year-old Charles Freeman was shot outside his family’s res- idence in Highland Pines. He was transported to a local hospi- tal and pronounced dead on ar- rival. Tampa Police are still asking for witnesses to step for- ward to help with the investiga- tion.
Freeman’s wife, Naque- sha, said they met in 2008, and together they had four children.
“He was really charming and loved spending time with his family. He was working at put- ting his life back together, and we had just celebrated our an- niversary on September 26. We had talked about planning a sec-
ond wedding for next year.
“He never said he was having prob- lems with anyone, and he got along with the peo- ple in his life.”
CHARLES FREEMAN
Tampa Icon Loses Battle With Cancer
Crime Seven Arrested In Connection With $50,000
PROPHETESS RUTHIE
B. JONES
Harmon’s Funeral Home is helping the family with arrange- ments for a service.
Tampa Police Homicide de- tectives are asking for help in solving this shooting, and re- quest anyone who may have wit- nessed the incident to call (813) 231-6130, or Crime Stoppers at 800-873-8477.
On Saturday morning, Brother Hakim Aquil lost his near 3-year battle with cancer. As with Muslim custom, he was laid to rest later that evening. He was 67.
Hakim left his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina as a young man, and came to Tampa looking for opportunity and a new beginning. With a strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit, Hakim established vari- ous businesses where he sold 8- track tapes. From that business, he stabled a chain of seafood / meat market convenience stores in prominent locations, such as 29th Street and Lake Avenue, 15th Street and Osborne Avenue, and a mobile unit that serviced surrounding cities and counties in the area.
With a mind always open for new opportunities, Hakim launched into music promotion. He introduced music groups such as New Edition, Kool and the Gang, Johnnie Tay- lor, Clarence Thomas, SOS Band, GAP Band Denise LaSalle, Tyrone Davis, Mil- lie Jackson, Melba Moore, Joe Simon, Marvin Sease, Peabo Bryson, and others to Tampa as well as many others.
Hakim said in business to al- ways pursue sure things such as
met elected officials, and advised them as to the things they needed to do to help the people.
“That corner was a great meeting place for anyone who just wanted to stop by and chat about life or their personal prob- lems. He never turned anyone away, and always listened.”
YaSin said after his father had been diagnosed and was very ill, he’d still go out to sell clothes and mingle with people.
“When his physical health failed, his mental health was still as sharp as ever. He fought all the way to the end and he never gave up on life or the people he loved and served.”
Hakim’s nephew, Ted Thurmond said, “He was on that corner for more than 30 years. He started out as a poor man, but always enriched the lives of others. He didn’t have an enemy in the world, and truly embraced all people.
“He owned a lot of different businesses through the years, and he has been an entrepreneur since he left high school. He was a great man and inspired a lot of people. Every time I came to Tampa, I’d see crowds of people around him on that corner. He was really special and sometimes people would just drop by to hear words of encouragement.”
Victoria’s Secret Theft
PRES. BARACK OBAMA And BROTHER HAKIM AQUIL
food, clothing, and shelter. Fol- lowing his own advice, he jour- neyed into the real estate industry by building single fam- ily homes and duplexes.
While juggling his many suc- cessful business ventures, he be- came the father of one child from his first marriage, Tasha, and 8 from his second marriage: YaSin, Rasheed, Abdul- Rahman, Zarinah, Tauheedah, Taqea, Muham- mad, and Siddiq.
His son, YaSin said his father deeply loved the community, and there was never a time he wouldn’t sacrifice his time and effort to help others.
“His stand on Columbus and North Boulevard was more than a place to sell clothes. It was his outdoor office where he offered advice, sometimes therapeutic,
SHERREANE WILLIAMS
Seven indi- viduals were taken into cus- tody and charged with retail theft. The offense took place earlier this month.
According to
the Polk County
Sheriff’s Office, the investigation began in October after police were contacted about several thefts that had taken place at two Victoria’s Secrets Stores.
PAULINE BILLUPS
The company’s Loss Preven- tion Department told police that since July, the store in Lakeland had 18 separate thefts and the store in Lake Wales had been tar- geted 8 times. The total loss at- tributed to the shoplifting is $50,000.
The Organized Retail Crime Unit launched an investigation and the group was allegedly ob- served selecting merchandise and concealing it in “booster bags.” The bags prevented the anti-theft devices from activat- ing.
Police arrested and charged the individuals with several crimes.
None of the suspects are resi- dents of Polk County.
Ms. Sherreane Williams,
35, of Tampa, was charged with 1 count of grand theft, 1 count petit theft, 1 count resisting arrest, and 1 count possession of an anti- theft shoplifting device. She was released after posting a $2,750 bond.
Ms. Pauline Billups, 42, of Tampa, was charged with 2 counts grand theft, 1 count petit theft, 1 count resisting arrest, and 1 count possession of an anti- theft shoplifting device. She was released after posting a $3,750 bond.
Ms. Tequilla Wilson, 29,
TEQUILLA WILSON
SHEILA WADE
SHANTHEIA CONNER
JANIE WAITERS
DONAT SIMEUS, JR.
was charged with 1 count grand theft, 1 count petit theft, 1 count resisting arrest, and 1 count pos- session of an anti-theft shoplift- ing device. She was released after posting a $2,750 bond.
Ms. Shantheia Conner,
30, of Tampa, was released after posting a $8,750 bond. She was charged with 3 counts grand theft, 1 count petit theft, 1 count resisting arrest, and 1 count pos- session of an anti-theft shoplift- ing device.
All four women were arrested at the Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales after they were allegedly observed removing property from Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works.
Police also arrested Donat Simeus, Jr., 31, of North Palm Beach. He was charged with 1 count grand theft, 1 count resist- ing arrest, and 1 count possession of an anti-theft shoplifting de- vice. He was released after post- ing a $2,500 bond.
Both Ms. Sheila Wade, 46, and Ms. Janie Waiters, 43, are residents of West Palm Beach.
Ms. Wade was charged with 1 count grand theft and 1 count possession of an anti-theft shoplifting device. She was re- leased after posting a $2,000 bond.
Ms. Waiters was charged with 1 count grand theft and 1 count possession of an anti-theft shoplifting device. She was re- leased after posting a $2,000 bond.
PAGE 22-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2015