Page 17 - Florida Sentinel 1-5-16 Edition

Funerals/Memoriam
AIKENS
HARMON
HOLMES Haines City, FL
IN MEMORY OF
DIANN MARIE H. MELTON 1-4-2007
Nine years have come and gone, and it seems like yester- day. We all miss you every day. There will always be a missing link in the chain. You will always be in our hearts.
Your sons, Richard, Jr. and Maurice; mother, Curlie Williams; sisters, brothers and grandchildren. Love you.
DEATH LIST
AIKENS FUNERAL HOME
Elder Calvin Vance, Tampa.
Mrs. Minnie Rutland, Tampa.
Mr. Jacob Crawford Jackson, Tampa.
Mr. Roni Blackmon, Tampa.
Mr. Sylvester Moten, Tampa.
CHANDLER’S FUNERAL HOME Sarasota, FL
Master Malachi Allen, Tampa.
RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME
Mr. Stanley Bradley, Tampa.
Mr. Moses Darby, Tampa.
Mrs. Sharon Sheppard Gardner, Tampa.
Mrs. Carrie W. Prince, Tampa.
Ms. Florence Dena Randall, Bradenton, FL.
Mr. Theo Robinson, Tampa.
Ms. Shawna S. Williamson, Tampa.
Mrs. Mable Williamson Reid, Odessa, FL.
Mrs. Maggie Young, Brooklyn, New York.
WILSON FUNERAL HOME
Tomasa Martinez, Tampa.
Jefferson Jovan Flores Garcia (infant), Tampa.
ELDER CALVIN VANCE
Homegoing service for Elder Calvin Vance of Tampa, who transitioned from earth to heaven when his Father God called him on Wednesday, De- cember 30, 2015 at his home, will be held on Wednesday, Jan- uary6,2016,at1p.m.atthe Center for Manifestation Church, 3102 E. Lake Ave., Apos- tle Mark T. Jones, Sr., pastor, of- ficiating. The interment will be in Ayden, North Carolina.
Calvin Vance was born on No- vember 25, 1956 in New York City, NY, to Robert Vance and the late Elzena Vance. He was educated in Manhattan, New York public schools and gradu- ated from Evander Childs High School, Bronx, NY.
He began his early Christian journey at The Metropolitan Baptist Church in New York City. Calvin later joined Christian Life Center (now Christian Cultural Center), under the pastorate of Dr. A. R. Bernard, Sr. in Brook- lyn, N. Y., where he was married to Hazel (he called her his Queen). They relocated to Tampa, FL, in August of 1992 be- cause of his employment with J. P. Morgan Chase Bank (now over 30 years). His banking ca- reer is where he met his wife, Hazel. They were working part- ners, best friends and Bible study partners for 3 years prior to the now 25th year of marriage. He sang the song to her “Flesh of my Flesh and Bone of my Bones” until death do us part on September 22, 1990.
His Christian journey took him and Hazel to partner with Center For Manifestation four years ago and he was ordained Elder Calvin Vance in May of 2013, under the leadership of his spiritual dad, Apostle Mark T. Jones, Sr.
Calvin was a very competitive bowler (whatever he was doing). He enjoyed sports and jogging. He also played semi-profes- sional football in his early years.
He leaves to cherish his mem- ories: his devoted wife, Hazel Vance; father, Robert Vance; stepmother, Dorothy Vance, Durham, NC; daughter, Ebony Vance-Far, Rockaway, NY; step- daughter, Monifa Joseph At- more, Tampa; sister, Inez Vance Johnson (Billivan), Tea- neck, NJ; nephew, Jason Frazer, Littleton, CT; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, adopted sons and daughters in Christ, and friends.
He lived his life sold out to Jesus and strived daily to be the man of God that God wanted him to be. (Just like his son Jesus!!!) Calvin will surely be missed by everyone who knew him and he is still cheering and encouraging us on based on what the scriptures read.
The visitation will be held Wednesday, January 6th one hour prior to the service from 12- 1 p. m. at the church. The family and friends are asked to meet at the church for the services.
MR. JOHN THOMAS PRATT, JR.
Homegoing services for Mr. John Pratt, Jr., who passed away December 18, 2015, were held January 2, 2016, at 11 a. m. at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, 4618 N. Florida Avenue, Tampa, 33603, with Rev. Her- bert McFadden, pastor, officiat- ing. Interment was made in Rest Haven Memorial Park.
Mr. Pratt was preceded in death by: grandparents, Leroy and Patsy Rawls; uncles, Carlos Pratt, Akanfi Pratt, Freddie (Mary) Rawls and Leroy Rawls Jr.; and an aunt, Brenda Rawls.
He left to cherish his memory: mother, Vanessa C. Staten; dad, John Pratt, Sr.; brothers and sis- ters, Isaiah Pratt, John Pratt, III, Alexus Pratt, Frankie Staten, De- ontae Staten, Johneisha Pratt, Johnmeisha Pratt, Akanfi Pratt and Demarkis Staten; granddad, John Johnson; grandmothers, Linda Staten and Ann Pratt Jack- son (Charles); aunties, Sonya Pratt, Aretha McGill (James), Peggy Wright, Pastor Ruby Baker, Pamela Thomas (Dublin), and Sandy Reed (Dublin); un- cles, Luther Pratt, Edward Pratt (St. Pete), Henry Hannah (Apopka), Jim (Dublin), Steve Lawson (Tennessee), Samuel Staten and Lawrence Staten; nieces and nephews, Frankie Staten, Christopher Lundy, Devin Walker, Rashad Walker, Davon Richardson and Josiah Richardson; cousins, Delores Berry, Angel Rawls, Isaac Bran- ton (Jenny), Sylvia Castillo (Jorge), Angie Wright (DC), Dar- ren Wright (San Fran), Cawainis Leonard (Anissia) (Orlando), Shawn Stanley (Dublin), Charlie, Jr., Tyneshia, Willie, Jamarkus, Chris, Kennethia, Kenneth, Keon, Braxae, Dontavious, Malachi Baker, Michael, Alponso, Ryan, Rashad, Briana (Antonio), Jorge, Jr., Isaac, Isa- iah, Lutia, Akanfi, Luther, Jr., Rayana, Raneshia, De’Niya, Mikia, Arielle, Amiyrah, Zavian, Dre’Yani, Dah’Mani, Dorrell, Isaac, Jr., (wife), Marquise (wife) Tashareeca, Marvin, Sherry, Carlton, Tamika, Josh, Jeremy, Pete, Shamika, Derryl and Dominque; a host of friends including: Latoya and Janet Richardson and family, Marcus Sapp, Anita, Yolanda, Tandra, Jamie, Samaria and Yolanda Smith; and a very special friend, Lachaun Denson.
Visitation for Mr. John Pratt, Jr. was held Thursday evening from 6-8 p. m. at Harmon Fu- neral Home, 5002 N. 40th St., Tampa, 33610. The processional arranged at the church on Satur- day at 10:45 a. m.
A HARMON BURIAL
ELDER SAMMIE LEE MCQUEEN, SR.
Celebration of the life of Elder Sammie Lee McQueen, Sr., will be held on Friday, Jan- uary8,2016,at1p.m. atNew Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 3005 E. Ellicott Street, Tampa. Rev. Dr. Forrest Lett, eulogist, with Rev. Bruce Bryant, officiating. The inter- ment will be in Orange Hill Cemetery.
Elder Sammie Lee McQueen, Sr. was born on February 14, 1935 to Sam and Mary McQueen in Castleberry, Alabama. He at- tended public schools in Escam- bia County.
Elder McQueen moved to Haines City, FL, where he met his wife, Josephine McQueen. On December 16, 1957, they joined in matrimony and en- joyed 58 years of marriage living in Tampa.
Elder McQueen accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age. He was licensed and ordained as a minister under the leadership of the late Rev. W. L. Webb. Elder Mc- Queen faithfully pastored over 30 years total at the following churches: United M. B. Church, First Baptist Church of Key- stone, Highland M. B. Church, and Friendly M. B. Church. He joined New Hope M. B. Church and served alongside with the pastor and minister staff. He continued to minister and serve until his health began to fail him.
Elder McQueen received a degree in Theology at Florida Seminary. He retired with La- farge Corporation formally,
known as Florida Portland Ce- ment Company. He became an entrepreneur establishing Mc- Queen Lawn Care Services.
He was part of the Mason brotherhood and served in the Prison Ministry under the lead- ership of the late Rev. Abe Brown for 15 years.
In his leisure time, he enjoyed fishing, singing quartet with The Rising Stars, and vacationing with his wife and children. One of his favorite places to visit was Los Angeles, CA, where he was a contestant on The Price Is Right.
He was preceded in death by: his parents, Sam McQueen and Mary Booker; stepfather, Gor- don Booker; son, Sammie Mc- Queen, Jr.; brother, Emikle McQueen; and sisters, Corrie Webb, Lula Thomas and Minnie Olivia Clark.
Quietly and peacefully, Elder Sammie Lee McQueen, Sr. slipped into eternal rest on Tuesday, December 29, 2015.
He leaves to cherish memo- ries with: his devoted wife of 58 years, Mrs. Josephine McQueen; children, Angie (Rev. Dr. Thomas) Hadden, Sonia (Rev. Michael) Powell, Reginald Mc- Queen, and Keisha (Rev. Steven) Baxter, all of Tampa, and Car- olyn (Eddie) Hicks of Atlanta, Georgia; brothers, Johnnie Mc- Queen of Tampa, and Clifford (Sonia) McQueen of Miami, FL; sister-in-law, Flossie Dingle of Forestville, Maryland; aunt, Frankie Bonnie of Detroit, Michigan; 17 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren; de- voted godson, Rev. Richard (Sandra) Woodbury; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins in Florida, Michigan, Alabama, New York, and Chicago.
Special acknowledgement to: Roy, Angie, and staff at DaVita Dialysis Center, the staff at Con- sulate Rehabilitation Center, and the staff at Brandon Hospi- tal.
Specials friends: the New Hope Family, Sanders Family, Wade Family, Thornton Family, and Brinson Family.
A visitation will be held at New Hope M. B. Church on Thursday, January 7, 2016 from 6-7 p. m.
Family and friends are asked to meet at the church on Friday for the service.
HOLMES FUNERAL HOME, of Haines City, FL.
AIKENS FUNERAL HOME
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