Page 45 - Florida Sentinel 1-15-16 Edition

Funerals
RAY WILLIAMS
SISTER DENIE LOVE WILLIAMS
Sister Denie Love Williams of Tampa, passed away Thursday, January 7, 2016. Funeral services will be con- ducted Saturday, January 16 at 2 p. m. at Ray Williams Me- morial Chapel, 301 N. Howard Ave., with Elder Tony Parker, officiating. In- terment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Ceme- tery.
Sister Williams was a na- tive of St. Petersburg, FL, and a resident of Tampa for more than 60 years. She accepted Christ at an early age and was a faithful member of Light of the World Church, under the leadership of Apostle/Over- seer Johnny Jones, for many years until her health began to fail.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, Sam and Marze Love; and sister, Mrs. Corine Love Williams.
She leaves to cherish her memory: a devoted husband, J B Williams; a loving and de- voted daughter, Ms. Blossie Edwards; a devoted sister and companion, Ms. Elizabeth Love Davis, all of Tampa; grandson, Reginald Edwards (Tracy) of Tampa, FL; two great grandsons, Joseph and Jerin Handy, both of Tampa; nieces and nephews, Ernest Nelson Love (Doretha) of Philadelphia, PA, Jeanette Geneva Alexander Haslem (Harold) of Stone Mountain, GA, Roscoe Edwards Craw- ford, Jr. of Tampa, Gregory Gene Crawford (Abigail) of College Park, GA, and An- thony Keith Davis of Tampa; great nieces and nephews, Curtis Wayne Alexander of Stone Mountain, GA, Whit- ney Hovermale, Lexington, KY, Dachera Walker Brown (Freddie) of Louisville, KY, Nelson Alexander Love and Jeffrey Ernest Love, both of Cincinnati, OH, Dorian Love Beefcroff (David), Rodney Nowlin (Cacheta), Anyeta Crawford Strickland of Col- lege Park, GA, Shawntaz Crawford of Nashville, TN, and Julius Lockett III (Nicole) of Nashville, TN; de- voted cousins, Rosetta G. Bryant Cleggett (Sam), and children, Kimberly Harris Faison (Fred), and Blake Henry Harris III, all of Tampa; along with a host of other great great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
The remains will repose after 5 p. m., Friday, January 15 at Ray Williams Funeral Home. Arrangements en- trusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
DEACON JOHNIE ALFREDO LEWIS, SR.
The homecoming celebra- tion for Deacon Johnie Al- fredo Lewis, Sr., of Tampa, who passed away, Friday, January 8, 2016 will be held Saturday, January 16th at 11 a. m. at First Baptist Church of West Tampa, 1302 N. Wil- low Ave., Tampa, 33607, and officiated by Dr. Reverend Rayford Harper. The inter- ment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Ceme- tery, 4615 E. Hanna Ave., Tampa.
Johnie Lewis, Sr. was born and raised in West Tampa, where he graduated from Don Thompson Vocational School. At the ripe age of 16 years old, Johnie created, owned, and operated Johnie’s Sundries and Shoe Shine Shop (“The Shop”) on 1932 Main Street in West Tampa. He briefly attended Florida Agricultural & Me- chanical University (FAMU). He returned to Tampa where he managed “The Shop” and worked as a longshoreman.
He was a devoted member of First Baptist Church of West Tampa for well over 60 years, in addition to serving as one of its original Boy Scout Masters.
He was preceded in death by: mother, Eloise Lewis; fa- ther, Bruel Lewis, Sr.; son, Alexander Timothy Lewis; daughter, Andrea Jeanette Brown; and brothers, Bruel Lewis, Sr., James Lewis, Sr., Edward (Shabazz) Lewis, Sr., Earl Lewis, Sr., Anthony Lewis, Sr., and Herbert Lewis, Sr.
He leaves to cherish his precious memories: a very devoted wife, Louise Lewis; sons, Earl Harris (Deborah), Johnie Lewis, Jr. (Lavern), Gregory Lewis (Jolinda), Raymond Lewis, Sr., Vernon Lewis, and Alex Lewis, Sr. (Willette); daughters, Patri- cia Hordge (Larry), Yolanda Danette (Glen), Melody Haynes, Joyce Lewis, and Zulema Godfrey of Killeen, TX; forty-two grandchildren, sixty-four great grandchil- dren, and five great-great grandchildren; brother-in- law, Willie James Nelson of Hartford, CT; sister-in-law, Marie Lewis of Tampa; a host of other nieces, nephews, rel- atives, friends; and special friends, Herman Vann of Austin, TX, and Ruthamae Harper of Tampa.
The remains will repose after 5 p. m., Friday, January 15 at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Av- enue, and the family will re- ceive friends from 7:30-8:30 p. m. Arrangements en- trusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
MR. THEOPHILUS ‘THEO’ ROBINSON
Mr. Theophilus "Theo" Robinson of Tampa, passed away Monday, December 28, 2015.
A celebration of life serv- ice will be held Saturday, January 16, 2016, at 2 p. m. at 34th Street Church of God, 3000 N. 34th Street, Bishop Thomas Scott, Senior Pastor, and Reverend Crystal Brown, officiating. Inter- ment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Ceme- tery.
Mr. Robinson was a native of Tampa, born to Cora M. Robinson and reared by the late Johnny and Gladies Dupree. He was a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School, where he was a mem- ber of the cross-country team. After high school, Theo served in United States Army.
He was baptized at an early age and he was a family man who loved and adored his children and grandchil- dren. One of his passions was playing pool and cards.
He leaves to cherish his memory: his children, Ash- ley Robinson (Mikey), Kayla Denson, Justin Skelton, Imani Robinson, Xadrian Dawson and Sakiyah Cole- man; grandchildren, Michael Pope, Mya Pope, Je'hyrah Daniels and Eniyla Carlton; sisters, Yvonne Robinson- Kirkland (Rodney), Stephanie Robinson, Trieni- cia Washington (Edward), Debra Shanks, LaTanya Jackson (Johnny), and Vicki Williams; brothers, David Slatton (Jael), Shelton Larry, Thomas Larry (Gina), Henry Dupree (Frankie), Howard Pilcher, Fred Pilcher, Kelvin McQuay, Renaldo McQuay (Hue Ellen), and Fitz Mc- Quay; uncle, Willie Dupree (Mary); as a mother, Ms. Deborah Pittman (John); as a grandmother, Ms. Thelma Pilcher; godmother, Wanda Starling; special/dear friends, Rhonda Jean, Rhonda Holder, Kristie Skel- ton, Grover Cusseaux, Jr., Ronnie Andrews, Jimmy Jones and Eric Howard; a true and special friend, Leann Pettress; other neigh- borhood friends and families of Carver City and Tampa Heights, the Howard, Bell, Williams, Saffold and Hymes families; nieces, Nyashia Kennedy, Artishia James, Mary Robinson, Dominique, Brittany, Jasmine and Symira Slatton, Trina Web, Triencia, Alia, Olivia, Sylvia and Shayla Larry; nephews, Emmanuel Pilcher, Randy Clarke, Rodney Robinson, Michael Kirkland of Dallas, TX, Ronnie Robinson, De- vontae Larry, Henry Dupree,
Jr. and Chris Dupree; 2 great nieces and 3 great nephews, and a a host of other relatives and family friends.
The remains will repose after 5 p. m., Friday, January 15, at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Av- enue. Family and friends are asked to meet at the Church.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
ELDER CLARENCE JEROME HIGDON
Homegoing services for Elder Clarence Jerome Hig- don, who parted this life on January 11, 2016, will be held Saturday, January 16, 2016, at Calvary Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church, 10930 Highway 301 in Thonoto- sassa, FL, with Elder Leroy Turner, Jr. officiating. Inter- ment will follow at Sunset Memory Gardens.
Elder Higdon was a native of Thonotosassa, FL. He was baptized at an early age under the leadership of Rev- erend I. H. Butler at Loving Hill P. B. Church. He at- tended the local schools and in 1973 graduated from King High School, after which he attended Mississippi Valley State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Educa- tion.
In 1978, he was hired as a Physical Education Teacher with the School District of Hillsborough County.
In March 1979 he met and married Mary Gordon and to this union one child was born, Jeronica (Roni) Hig- don.
In 1996 he was ordained as a Deacon and in 2004 he was
called into the ministry under the leadership of Elder J. Williams. In starting his life anew, in June 2003 he married Debra Edge. He served on the ministerial staff of Loving Hill P. B. Church until his demise.
Elder Higdon was affili- ated with many organiza- tions: Mt. Pleasant #13 Lodge PHA, Joshua Chapter #32 HRAM PHA, Idaho Com- mandery #6 PHA, Harram Temple #23 Prince Hall Shinemail, Kappa Alpha Psi Inc., Tampa Alumni Chapter, The Charles R. Johnson Invi- tational Track and Field Founder and award recipi- ent.
In August 2011 Elder Hig- don retired after 33 years of service with the School Board of Hillsborough County.
He leaves to cherish his memories: adoring wife, Debra Higdon; devoted daughter, Jeronica (Roni) Higdon; step children, Quanishia Johnson (Tau- rus), Arielle Edge, Donald Edge, and Caitlinn Edge; lov- ing mother, Alice Johns; sis- ters, Asia Johns, and Virginia Escalante’ and hus- band; uncle, Joe Johnson (Gloria); aunt, Rosa B. John- son; step grandchildren, Tiana, Jaydon, and Mateo Edge; mother-in-law, Bessie Livingston; brothers and sis- ters-in-law, Barbara Bass, Sylvester Hayward, Joey Hayward, Patricia Walkine (Patrick), Carolyn Hadley (Alvin), Tynia Thomas (Charles), Marilyn Glymph (Roscoe), Angela Thomas (Walter), Juanita Thomas (Clinton), and Veronica Hay- ward; godbrothers, Michael Danzey and Cornelius Bobo; godsister, Valerie Gardner; goddaughters, Victoria Jansen, Julia White and Shelby Coney; and a host of sorrowing nieces, nephews and friends.
The remains will repose after 5 p. m. Friday, January 15 at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Av- enue.
Arrangements entrusted to RAY WILLIAMS FUNERAL HOME, Rhodes & Northern, Owners.
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