Rev.
Emmett Guy MATHEWS - 1928 - 2011
Rev. Emmett
Guy Mathews of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, April 24, 2011 at his
residence. He was born November 15, 1928 in Opp, AL to the
late Lona H. & Carrie Lee (Mooneyham) Mathews; and came to Lake
Wales from Bartow in 1964. He was
a retired Baptist minister, and his pastorates include Central Avenue
Baptist Church of Lake Wales, Southside Baptist Church of Frostproof
and Lake Garfield Baptist Church.
Rev. Mathews was preceded in death by his first wife, Clara
Mathews.
Survivors include his wife of 11 years, Vera Mathews; son,
Randall Mathews of Silver Spring, MD; step-son, Charles Cunningham of
Lake Wales and
Steve Cunningham of Vero Beach;step-daughter, Lisa Cunningham of Lake
Wales;
brother, Elmer Mathews of Rome, GA; 2 grandchildren and 1
great-grandchild
Visitation was held. Wednesday, April 27,
2011,and the funeral service was held Thursday, April 28,
2011 at the Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales with Rev. Darrol
Hood and Rev. Charles Cooper officiating.
Interment will follow at the
Wildwood Cemetery in
Bartow |
Rev.
Curtis A. ARNOLD, Sr. - 1914 - 2011
Rev. Curtis A. Arnold, Sr. of Frostproof passed away
Saturday, March 26, 2011 at the Winter Haven Hospital. He was born
July 28, 1924 in Shorter, AL to the late Evetus
Ethel & Julia Willard (Kirkland) Arnold; He came to
Frostproof as a child in 1936 from Montgomery,
AL, spent his youth here until moving away for college and the
beginning of his pastoral career. His pastorates include Church of God
in Brownville, VA, Zanesville, OH, Sebring, FL, Louisville, OH and
retired
from the Frostproof Church of God. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Survivors include his
wife, Alvena Arnold; daughters, Raggi
Hollinshead of Temecula, CA and Lujean Plair of Lakeland; sons, Curtis
A. Arnold, Jr.
of Alabama and Danny Blackwelder of Avon Park; 14 grandchildren and 7
great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held 2:00pm, Thursday, March 31,
2011 at the Christian Fellowship Assembly in Frostproof with Pastor
Thelma Gandy
and Dr. Jim Adams officiating.
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Rev.
Samuel
J. WHITENER - 1971
Rev. Samuel died Sunday at Naples Community Hospital. A
native of North Carolina, Rev. Whitener had been a minister in the
Church of God for 42 years. He founded a church in Bowling Green and
pastored churches in Naples, Avon Park, LaCoochee, MacClenny, Newberry,
Palmetto, Bartow, and Highlands City, all in Florida.
Survivors include :3 sons, Wilford W. Whitener of Palmdale,
George A. Whitener of Naples, and Samuel E. Whitener of Atlanta.;
4 daughters, Mrs. Lotchie Hatcher of Riverside, Calif., Mrs.
Marie Braswell of Tampa, Mrs. Walter Lauster of Naples and Mrs. Frieda
Courson of Atlanta, 14 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, and 19
brothers and sisters.
Funeral services were held Tuesday in the
Bartow Church of God with the Rev. D. A. Biggs, the Rev. Walter Montz
and the Rev. Walter Lauster officiating.
Burial will be in the Bartow's Wildwood Cemetery. The
family
suggests that contributions be made to the Whitener Memorial Mission
Fund in care of the Church of God. Friends may call today from 7 to 9
pm at Pittman's Naples Chapel.
Permission for use by: Mary - Naples Daily News - Sept.20, 1971 -
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Rev.
Larry Raymond
KILGORE - 1947 - 2012
Lakeland-
The
Rev. Larry
Raymond Kilgore age 64, of Lakeland, died February 11, 2012. He was
born in Lakeland on June 25, 1947. Larry was a Church of God
Minister,
serving for 42 years. He was a member of the Abundant Life Church of
God. He graduated from Haines City High School in 1965, and Florida
State University in 1969. He got his Masters from Southeastern
University in 2010 and his Doctorate from Crossland Christian
University in 2011.
Rev. Kilgore is preceded in death by his father, Clifford Raymond
Kilgore.
He is survived by his mother, Betty Marie Kilgore, Lakeland; wife of 45
years, Lynn Kilgore,; sons, Larry Raymond and his wife Stacy Kilgore,
Jr., Darren Scott and wife Niki Kilgore; dauhters, Christi Lynn and
husband Tod Cole, Marcy Marie and husband Don Le; sister Marilyn Marie
and husband Glen Tarvin; 11 grandchildren.
Visitationo on Tuesday Feb 14, Funeral on Wednesday, Feb.15, 2012 at
Abundant Life Church of God. Interment
in Mt. Tabor Cemetery.
( The
Ledger, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 )
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Rev.
J. P.
FLOYD, Jr. -
Rev.
Floyd was age 44 died Tuesday, June 20, 1978, after a three month
illness. Rev. Floyd had only lived in Bartow for 3 years, he was
well known about the city for his community work and unorthodox manner
in dealing with people and his beliefs.
A unique man who was both liberal and conservative at the same time.
Local residents and close friend, David Hallock said Rev. Floyd was a
man who could see God's work in a movie, a poem as some small child
might do. Mr.Hallock, president of the local Rotary Club, said, when a
person met Rev. Floyd, they would come away with the feeling that the
guy really cared about me. He was a very loving and caring man.
Roy H. Gallomore, a member of the local governing body of the First
United Methodist Church, said Rev. Floyd will be greatly missed by the
community.
The pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Bartow, Rev.
Floyd
was actively involved in the Bartow Performing Arts Council. He
produced one play and acted in several others.
A native of Atlanta, he was on the staff of the Lakeland
Methodist
Conference Organization for 6 years and served as secretary of the
Rotary Club.
Survivors include his wife
Beverly B. Floyd, Bartow; son, Paul Garrett
Floyd, daughter, Alison Floyd and father, J. P. Floyd, Sr., Tampa.
Funeral services were held Friday at First United Methodist Church in
Bartow. Rev. Floyd was cremated. Rev. Dr.Melton Ware
officiated.
( The Ledger, Thursday, June 22, 1978 )
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REV.
BUFORD "BUDDY" LEE PAUL, 87
LAKELAND -
Rev. Buford "Buddy" Lee Paul, of Lakeland, FL passed away on Monday,
March 19, 2012 due to complication of an injury from a fall. Mr. Paul
was born September 12, 1924 in Ashford, Alabama and came to Lakeland
from Plant City in 1957. He was a Minister in the Assemblies of God and
a Carpenter in the construction field. Bro. Paul was ordained in the
Assemblies of God over 50 years, retired from Carpenters Local and the
Polk County School Board, and a member of Fellowship Church Assembly of
God.
Rev. Paul is survived by his wife, Dorothy E. Paul, Lakeland, FL; sons,
Ronnie Lee Paul (Brenda) and Steve Michael Paul (Kathy), Plant City,
FL; daughters, Rhonda Carol Applewhite (Rev. Danny) and Sheryl Lynn
Turcotte (Rev. Keith), Lakeland, FL; brothers, Gene Paul, Plant City,
FL, and Earl Paul, Zephyrhills, FL; 10 grandchildren & 18 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Friday, 3/23/12, at
Fellowship Church
Assembly of God. Funeral services will take place on Saturday, 3/24/12.
at Fellowship Church Assembly of God.
Interment
will be in Mt. Tabor Cemetery. - ( Polk Co.,Fl. -The Ledger, March 22,
2012 )
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|
Stacy
Smith, 73, Smith Builders & Pastor
LAKELAND -- The Rev.
Stacy C. Smith began talking to people about
the Lord while he was working as a general contractor through his
business, Smith Builders, in Lakeland. The retired contractor, pastor
and evangelist died of heart failure Wednesday (July 11, 2001) at home.
He was 73. "He had a great zest for life. He liked doing things, never
staying still and having fun," said his daughter, Gloria Smith Perez of
Valencia, Calif. "He had one of those minds that he could just retain
everything."
A native of Lakeland, he was born April
14, 1928,
and lived in Polk County his entire life. He met his wife, Alta, when
she was visiting his cousin. They were married 53 years. "We both
played guitars and sang on the radio station a little bit right after
we were married," said Alta Smith. "We had a good life together." He
operated Smith Builders in the 1960s, building custom homes and other
structures, including the Polk City Fire Station and the New Home
Baptist Church parsonage. "He could do plumbing, wiring, drawing up his
own blueprints -- he could do everything. He was my angel," Alta Smith
said. She
said he was called to work full time for the Lord while on his way home
from meeting with a family he was doing work for. He served as pastor
of the Bartow Pentecostal Church of God for five years and the
Miracle
Hour House of Prayer for six years. "When he started pastoring
churches, if they couldn't afford a pastor, he would do it for free,"
Alta Smith said. The Smiths traveled in their motor home to
Pennsylvania, Illinois, Alabama, California and other states, where
Rev. Smith was an evangelist for several years until his health would
no longer permit him to do this. "He wanted to be healed and get out
and preach. He still prayed with people on the phone," Alta Smith said.
Perez added that her father had just prayed with someone over the phone
two days before his death.
In addition to his wife and daughter, he is survived by his sons, Carl
Christopher Smith, Belton, S.C., Jared Stacy Smith, Valencia; sister,
Evelyn Rogers, Lakeland; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Sunday at Lakeland Funeral Home.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel. ( July
11, 2001 )
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LAKE
WALES - Rev. Ed Bryant, 85, of Lake Wales passed away Sunday, June 3,
2012 at the Lake Wales Medical Center due to heart failure. He was born
February 20, 1927 in Babson
Park to the late
Hannie W. & Mattie
Kiser Bryant; he was a lifelong resident of this area. His
pastorates
included First Baptist Church, Jan Phyl Village in Winter
Haven, Central Avenue Baptist Church in Lake Wales from 1968 until
1992, retired from 1992 until 1996, First Baptist Church of Alturas
from 1996 until 2000 and retired again in 2000. He also retired from
the Lake Wales Post Office in 1982 after 35 years and was a
veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army. He enjoyed reading and
studying scripture.
Rev. Bryant was preceded in death by his wife, Tina M. Bryant in
1993.
Survivors include his two sons, David W. Bryant Cheryl of Lake
Wales
and Michael A. McDuffie JuVonne of Daleville, AL; sister, Mae Watson of
Lake Wales; five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held, Wednesday, June 6, 2012
and the funeral service will be held, Thursday, June 7, 2012 at
the Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales with David W. Bryant
and Michael A. McDuffie officiating.
Interment
will follow at the Lake Wales Cemetery. For those who wish, donations
may be sent to any church of choice.
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>Rev. J. A. Davis - Baptist
Minister ( Ledger, Thursday, March 21, 1935 )
Rev Davis died this morning at 3:30 at the home of his
daughter,
Mrs. Fred SLOAN, 740 Rushing Ave. He would have been 69 in June.
Funeral Services will be held tomorrow morning at the First
Baptist Church with Rev. C. M. Crossway and Rev. W. D. Entzminger
officiating.
Interment will be in
Socrum Cemetery. The body will lie in state
at the church for one hour before the services begin.
Rev. Davis had lived in this section 23 years and had served at
churches at Fort Meade, Avon Park and several other towns. He was born
in Owens County, Kentucky,
and was ordained in June 1885. He was
educated at Georgetown College in Georgetown, Ky., Owens College at
Harrisburg, Ky. and the Louisville Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary.
His wife, Mrs. Rhonda Ella Davis is dead as is a son, Allen
Thurman Davis.
Rev. Davis is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Sloan and 3 brothers,
J. S. Davis of Kentucky, W. H. Davis of California and P. Davis of
Kansas. He was a member of the Nasonic Order. Rev. Davis had
been in failing health for more than 2 years and
had been very ill for the past several months. - Smith and Dukes
morticians are in charge of arrangements. Burial
in Socrum Cemetery. |
>REV. A.
D.
ALBRITTON - 87
FORT MEADE - Rev. A. D.
Albritton, 87, passed away Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at his home in Fort
Meade, FL.
A. D. was born and lived his
entire life in the Fort Meade area. He served in the U. S. Navy during
WWII on the carrier U.S.S. Bennington and fought in the Battle of Leyte
Gulf, Philippines. A. D. was a builder and loved working with his
hands, but his greatest vocation was sharing his love for his Savior,
Jesus Christ, and was faithful in sharing the gospel even in his final
days.
He is preceded in death by
his parents David and Lillian
(Parrish) Albritton; brothers Frank M.
Albritton and John Gavin "Doc" Albritton; sisters Lessie E. Mann, Rose
N. Comp- ton, Catherine L. "Kitty" McPherson, Myra L. Sheffield,
Lillian Clarice Griffin, and Joan M. Southwell.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Vivian
Lessie (McDuffie) Albritton; sister Edna Maxwell of Georgia; daughter
Sue Knight of Arcadia; sons Nathan (Donna) Roberson
of Bartow, John (Suzannah) Albritton of Bartow, Larry Albritton of Fort
Meade, Ted (Dorothy) Albritton of Bartow, and Frank (Angie) Albritton
of Fort Meade; twenty-two Grandchildren and twenty seven Great-
Grandchildren.
Funeral service at McLean Funeral Home, 306 East Broadway, Fort
Meade, FL Monday, May 10, 2010.
Burial will take place at Bethlehem Cemetery.
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>DR.
ALVA E.
WYATT - 85
BARTOW - Dr. Alva E. Wyatt, age 85, passed away from
heart failure Thursday, October 18, 2012 at home in Bartow. Born
February 3 , 1927 in Franklin, Ohio, he was the son of the late I.C.
and Reca Jane Wyatt. Dr. Wyatt was an ordained Minister in the
Assemblies of God, a former Detective with the Bartow Police Department
and retired from the Polk County Sheriff's Department. He was also a
member and Chaplain of the American Legion Post #3 in Bartow, and a
published author of a poetry book. Dr. Wyatt was a veteran of the U.S. Army in WWII.
He is survived by a loving family that includes his wife, Ruth Centers
Wyatt of Bartow, his children, Sandra Wyatt-Casey of Bartow, Barry
Wyatt (Janice) of Lakeland, Darrell Wyatt (Rita) of Bartow, Stuart
Wyatt of Winter Haven, Stephen Wyatt (Evelyn) of O'Fallon IL, Lisa
Wyatt of Nashville, TN, Michael Wyatt of Bartow, Lorri Wyatt-Taylor of
Bartow, and his siblings: Rev. W.H. Wyatt of Richmond, IN, Rev. I.C.
Wyatt, Jr. of New Bern, NC, Irene Johnson of Trenton, NC, Donald Wyatt,
Walter Wyatt, David Wyatt, Shirley Wyatt-Campbell and James Wyatt all
of Richmond , IN. He also leaves behind 11 grandchildren, and 15 great
grandchildren.
The family will receive friends Monday, October 22nd at the First
Assembly of God in Bartow.
Funeral
services will follow at the Church. Condolences may be made to the
family at
(Ledger, Oct. 20, 2012 )
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>ROBERT E.
WILLOUGHBY- 88 - Social,
Religious & Political Activist
SAN DIEGO, CA. - Robert E. Willoughby was a minister, a
teacher, and a
true champion for civil rights in America.He was born December 12, 1923
in Detroit, MI, prior to the Great Depression. As a scholar, Bob earned
his undergraduate degree at Duke and his Masters of Divinity at Yale.
Reverand Willough-by served five churches and taught World Literature,
while in Michigan. Upon retirement, Bob lived in Lakeland, FL and
published six books about life, religion, and politics. He and his wife
Elizabeth were members of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Lakeland.
Robert spent his final days living with his daughter Jeanne and her
spouse Cathy in San Diego, CA, where he died of prostate cancer.
He is survived by his children, Frank, Jeanne, Mary Ann, and Rob.
There will be a memorial service on Dec. 02, 2012 at the Unitarian
Universalist Church in Lakeland. Details to be announced.
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>REV. JAMES E.
FERRELL - 70 - Ordained Minister
GRIFFIN, GA. - Rev. James E. Ferrell, age 70, of Griffin,
GA, passed away on February 26, 2013.
He was born December 10, 1942 in Foley Florida, the son of
Henry and Juanita Ferrell.
He
was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Sharon Ferrell.
James was
an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God for over 40 years. He
pastored churches in Lake Wales and Gainesville and served as
an associate pastor with Carpenter's Home Church in Lakeland,
Florida. His passion was providing Christian counseling to his church
and community and also teaching Bible at Evangel Christian School.
James is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Denee
Ferrell, 3 grandchildren, Devin, Kiera and Grady Ferrell, and his
sister, Nellie Hinton of Marianna, Florida.
His family would like to acknowledge the staff of Brightmoor
Assisted Living for providing excellent care and treating him as
family.
A graveside service will be held on March 2nd, 2013 at Forest
Meadows Memorial Park West in Newberry, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations be made
to Brightmoor Assisted Living, 3223 Newnan Road, Griffin, GA 30223. The Haisten McCullough Funeral Home, 1155
Everee Inn Rd. is in charge of arrangements. –
Ledger, Friday, March 1, 2013
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