Obituaries

Laura "Sandy" Williams

LAURA "SANDY" WILLIAMS, 72

Homemaker

LAKELAND - Mrs. Laura "Sandy" Williams of Lakeland died Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at Good Shepherd Hospice of Palm Terrace due to lung cancer. She was 72 years of age.

Mrs. Williams was born in Brownington, Vermont on March 2, 1935 to Raoul and Laura Messier. She moved to Lakeland in 1996 from Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. Her family said that she always had a "green" thumb and enjoyed gardening and planting.

She was preceded in death by her son, Mitchell Elwin Stone. Survivors include her husband Charles "Ray" Williams of Lakeland; son, Donald Stone of TN; daughters, Patricia Stone of Lakeland, and Donna Stone of MA; step-daughter, Lola Charlene Lawson of Okeechobee, Fl; brother, Norman Messier of TN; sister, Jeannette Leroux of AZ;

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Watson Clinic Cancer Center for Research, 1730 Lakeland Hills Blvd. Lakeland, Fl 33805.

Gentry-Morrison Northside Chapel in charge of handling the arrangements.

Elder Hugh M. Blevins, Jr.

ELDER HUGH M. BLEVINS, JR., 78

Elder

AUBURNDALE - Elder Hugh Mitchell Blevins, Jr., 78 of Auburndale, died Tuesday, March 27, 2007 at his home of heart failure.

He was born March 4, 1929 in Chilhowie, VA to Hugh Mitchell and Lelia (Perry) Blevins, Sr. and moved to Auburndale in 1993 from Smith County, VA. Hugh pastored for many years with the St. Clair Bottom Primitive Baptist Church in Smith County. He was also a Smith County School bus driver and drove his own truck.

Hugh is preceded in death by his parents and a son, Gary Blevins. Hugh was married to Ruby Blevins for 55 years and she died January 28, 2003. He remarried on February 21, 2007 to Edna Miller and she resides in Auburndale. Hugh is also survived by his two sons, Ernest of Virginia and Harvie of Auburndale; a daughter, Brenda and her husband, Bobby Sawyers of Galax, VA; five grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren also survive.

Friends will be received from 1-2:00pm on Saturday with funeral services following at 2pm at the Mt. Enon Baptist Church. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes, Northside Chapel, Lakeland.

Alice Marie Howell

ALICE MARIE HOWELL, 73

LAKELAND - Alice Marie Howell, age 73, died Tuesday March 27, 2007 after her courageous battle with cancer.

Mrs. Howell was born October 31, 1933 in Meshoppen, PA, the daughter of Clarence and Mazie LaFrance. She was married 52 years ago on August 14, 1954. A devoted active military wife and loving mother who raised four children while traveling the world in support of her Air Force husband. She was a faithful member of Crestview Baptist Church, serving in the Women's Ministry, as a Sunday School Teacher, a AWANA instructor, and a member of the Christian Women's Association . Always one to lend a shoulder and listen, she will be greatly missed by her friends.

She is survived by her husband, Robert J. Howell, Lt. Colonel USAF retired of Lakeland, Fl; three daughters, Pamela Drinkard of Kansas City, MO, Lori Jensen of Raymore, MO,; the late Susan Howell, she is also survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Brad and Deborah Howell of Fairfax, VA.; two sisters and brother-in-laws, Linda and Floyd Newhart of Meshoppen, PA. and Lois and Ronald Mowry of S. Auburn, PA; mother-in-law, Hazel Steele of Lakeland, Fl.; eight grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

The visitation will be Sunday, April 1, 2007 from 4-6 pm at the Gentry-Morrison Northside Chapel. Funeral Services will be held Monday, April 2, 2007 at 11:00 am at the Crestview Baptist Church, 6949 Old Polk City Rd., Lakeland, Fl 33809.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Crestview Baptist Church building fund.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

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William "Bill" Barrett

WILLIAM "BILL" BARRETT, 73

Retired Navy Veteran

LAKELAND - Mr. William T. Barrett, 73, of Lakeland died Monday March 26, 2007 at the Lakeland Regional Medical Center due to heart failure.

He was born October 25, 1933 in Bishopville, S.C. to Jesse and Inez (Troublefield) Barrett. Bill moved to Lakeland in 1972 from Charleston, S.C. He was a member of the Griffin Baptist Church, Masonic Lodge, a retired Navy veteran, serving during the Korean Conflict.

He is survived by his wife, Andree Barrett of Lakeland, Fl; son, Larry Barrett of Crystal River, Fl; daughter, Kim Parker of Melbourne, Fl; brother, C.M. Barrett of Baton Rouge, LA; grandson, Aaron Parker and a great-grandson, Tyler Parker.

The visitation will be Friday March 30, 2007 at the Gentry-Morrison Northside Chapel, 5245 US Hwy 98 North, from 6-8 pm. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 31, 2007 at the Griffin Baptist Church, 3225 Kathleen Road, at 10:00 am with Pastor Todd A. Pope & Rev. John Hagan officiating.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

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Dawn Newton

DAWN NEWTON, 82

Stenographer

LAKELAND - Dawn Newton, 82, passed away from heart failure March 25, 2007 at LRMC. No local services.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Marshall L. Founds

MARSHALL L. FOUNDS, 88

Sheet Metal Mechanic

LAKELAND - Marshall L. Founds, 88, died of heart failure March 25, 2007 at Palm Terrace.  He will be laid to rest in Crumpton, MD.

Arrangements by Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Virginia Ann Kirkland

VIRGINIA ANN KIRKLAND, 49

LAKELAND - Virginia Kirkland, 49, died of kidney failure 3/25/07.

Survived by mother, Mary Curry; sisters, Sandra, Susan, Barbara, & Glenda.

Arrangements by Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Wayne A. Farrell

WAYNE A. FARRELL, 61

Lowe's Sales Associate

LAKELAND - Mr. Wayne A. Farrell passed away on 3/21/07 at Bartow Regional Medical Ctr. due to heart failure.

Mr. Farrell was born in Boston, Ma. and moved his family to Lakeland 14 years ago from Daytona Beach, Fl.. He was a US Army veteran who served in Thailand during the Vietnam Conflict and he was of Methodist faith. Mr. Farrell was a sales associate for Lowe's in Lakeland and was formerly employed with Home Depot.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon of Lakeland, daughters, Brenda (Jeff) Mazzone of Methuen, Ma., Erin Hennessy and fianc‚ Kyle Kennedy of Lakeland, brother, Frank (Sharon) Farrell of Arizona, grandsons, Nicholas and Christian Mazzone.

Visitation will be Mon. 3/26 from 1-2pm at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Rd., with services following at 2:00pm.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

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Evelyn B. Sherry

EVELYN B. SHERRY, 85

MULBERRY - Ms. Evelyn B. Sherry passed away on 3/24/07 at Lakeland Regional Medical Ctr. due to complications from leukemia.

Ms. Sherry was born in Gary, IN and moved to Lakeland from Highland, IN 7 years ago. She is a member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Lakeland and was a former member of St. James Catholic Church in Highland, IN.

Ms. Sherry is preceded in death by her first husband, Anthony Vespo, her second husband, Arthur Sherry and a daughter, Odilia Pavnick. She is survived by her grandchildren, Dana Pasquis of Mulberry, Fl and Mark Pavnick of Munster, IN.

Visitation will be Mon. (today) from 5 - 6pm at St. John Neumann Catholic Church with a mass to follow at 6 pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to VISTE, 1232 E. Magnolia St., Lakeland, FL 33801 or Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL 33823.

Arrangements by Gentry- Morrison Funeral Home, Dukes-Steen Chapel.

John Aponte

JOHN APONTE, 81

LAKELAND - Mr. John Aponte, 81, died Friday, March 23, 2007 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Cause of death was heart failure.

Mr. Aponte was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and lived in New York City until 1991. He retired to Lakeland in 1992, being an active member of the Prop Busters RC Club. He served in the US Army during World War II.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Rosa; daughter, Mildred; sons, Albert and Richard and 8 Grandchildren.

Visitation will be Monday from 5 to 8 P.M. at Gentry-Morrison Northside Chapel with services to be held on Tuesday, 3/27/07 at 11 A.M. at the Chapel, 5245 US Hwy. 98 North, Lakeland. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Burial Park, Lakeland.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.