Obits
Instructors from around Polk Co., Fl.
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>ANN ELIZABETH THROWER IRBY – 51 - Teacher
LAKELAND - Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Thrower Irby, died peacefully at her home in Lakeland, Florida on December 14, 2007, after a courageous fight with cancer. Ann was born on August 11, 1956 in Starkville, Mississippi. She was married to John R. Irby on December 18, 1982 at the First Presbyterian Church in Starkville. She and her family moved to Texas in 1984 and lived there until 2002 when they moved to Lakeland. She graduated from Columbia (MS) High School in 1974, attended the University of Southern Mississippi and graduated from Mississippi State University August 1979. Her desire had always been to work with children. She obtained her teacher's certification and was an elementary school teacher (Texas) at Corprew Elementary and Annie Sims Elementary from 1995-2003. moving to Lakeland, Ann continued her teaching career with the Polk County School Board. At the time of her death, she was a third grade teacher at Crystal Lake Elementary School in Lakeland. > Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Tinsley Brock Thrower and Sara Elizabeth Johnson Thrower Jones, and sister Patricia Thrower. > She is survived by her husband, Dr. John Rivers Irby of Lakeland, sons Christopher Rivers Irby (Samantha Jones Irby) of Grand Prairie, Texas and John Cameron Irby of Lakeland and a brother, John Tinsley Thrower (Linda Virdagamo Thrower, Joseph & Christianne) of Cypress, Texas. She also leaves behind aunt & uncle John and Anne McWhorter of Starkville, MS, two aunts Jane Johnson of Canadian, Texas and Kakie Williams of Weatherford, TX, many nieces, nephews, cousins and those special friends she made along the course of her life. Visitation will be on Monday at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Dukes-Steen Chapel, 1833 South Florida Avenue, Lakeland, FL. Phone: (863)682-3155. > A visitation will be held on Friday, December 21, 2007 and a memorial service will follow at the First Presbyterian Church, 307 University Drive, Starkville, MS. Memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 115 S. Missouri Avenue, Suite 500, Lakeland, FL 33815. – Ledger, Dec. 16, 2007 |
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LAKELAND
-- Mr. Elmer E. Banks of Lakeland died Saturday (July 1, 2006) at
Lakeland Regional Medical Center following a stroke. He was born July
5, 1917, in Campton, Ky., he moved to Lakeland from New Jersey
in 1957. He served in the U.S. Army for more than 22 years, serving
during the Korean War, and retired as a major. He was also an
assistant principal at Lakeland High School. > He
is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren
and one sister. Services will be held at Florida National Cemetery in
Bushnell. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lakeland
Volunteers in Medicine Clinic, 102 Massachusetts Ave., Lakeland, FL
33801. Heath Funeral Chapel, Lakeland. - Ledger, July 3,
2006
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LAKELAND - James
Johnson, Jr., died on December 22, 2014, LRMC due to complications
associated with chronic heart failure. James, affectionately known as
'Junior,' was born April 9, 1951, in Lakeland at Morrell Memorial
Hospital to Susie Mae (Dyson) and James Johnson, Sr. (deceased).
He received
all of his primary and secondary education at Rochelle Elem. &
Jr.-Sr. High Schools, graduating in 1968. He further his
education at Polk Jr. College receiving an A.S. degree; then
proceeded to Florida Southern College graduating with a B.S. degree
in Education, later receiving M.S. from National Louis Univ. He started his
teaching career at Lincoln Elem. and would go on to teach at
Lakeland Jr. High, Lakeland B.E.S.T., and would retire from
Churchwell Elem. due to health issues after 30 yrs. He returned and
taught an additional 7 years post-retirement at the Dwight Smith Center.
> Survivors
include his sisters Cherlyn Pugh and Palma McGowan, 6 nieces, 4
nephews, 20 grand nieces and nephews and extended family members:
Janice Myers-Smith, Henry Rodmon, Jr. &Timothy Roundtree. A service
of Remembering will be Saturday, January 3, 2015, at 1 p.m.
at the Greater St. Paul Missionary Bapt. Church, 1130 N. Webster Av.
Interment at Oak Hill Burial Park. Coney Funeral Home, Lakeland.
– Ledger, Sat., Jan. 3, 2014.
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LAKELAND -- Mrs. Gwen H.
Clements Causey, a retired music teacher who worked with children in
several capacities throughout her life, died of cancer Saturday (Nov.
27, 2004) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. "She loved both music
and children -- that was her life," said her husband, John "Pete"
Causey. Born in Tampa, on March 27, 1928, she developed an
interest in music early in life and graduated from the School of Music
at Florida State University with a double major in voice and music.
Following her graduation in 1949, Mrs. Causey accepted a position
teaching music at Clermont High School, where she she met her
future husband of 54 years."We met on a blind date and it was the blind
date that turned out good. We dated for a year, and we were married
in 1950," Pete Causey said. The couple moved to Lakeland in 1950,
and Mrs. Causey taught music at Cleveland Court Elementary School
for several years. She later taught at Pat Pierce private school and at
Mrs. Mitchell's Garden of Listening. After her retirement, Mrs. Causey
served as a volunteer Guardian Ad Litem in the 10th Judicial Circuit,
and volunteered at Crystal Lake Elementary School for several
years."She would help them read or do their homework," said her
daughter, Virginia "Ginny" Causey-Burris of Lakeland. "That was her
forte -- working with children."Mrs. Causey was a member of the P.E.O.
Chapter CP, Contemporary Club and the Needlework Guild. She was a
member of Lakeside Baptist Church. >In addition to her husband,
John "Pete" Causey, and daughter, Virginia "Ginny" Causey-Burris,
Mrs. Causey is survived by her daughters, Melissa C. Hornsby, West Palm
Beach, and Patricia C. Hackett, Palm Beach Gardens; and four
grandchildren. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lakeside Baptist
Church, 1736 New Jersey Road, Lakeland. Burial will follow in Oak
Hill Cemetery in Clermont. In lieu of flowers, donations may be
made to Center for Cancer Care and Research, 1730 Lakeland Hills Blvd.,
Lakeland, 33805, Lakeland Regional Cancer Center, 3525 Lakeland Hills
Blvd., Lakeland, 33804, or the Children's Cancer Center, 4901 W.
Cypress St., Tampa, 33607. – Ledger, Dec. 2, 2004.
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FORT MEADE -
Mrs. Lorraine 'Skeetchie' Young passed away Tuesday, September 22,
2015, at home surrounded by her family. Mrs. Young was
born on July 3, 1921, in Bowling Green, FL, to William and Ruth Cole
Cliett, and considered herself a Hardee County girl her entire life.
She grew up in Bowling Green with one sister and two brothers and
enjoyed all the advantages of growing up in a small, close knit
community. > Mrs. Young met
her husband to be, Tommy Young of Bartow, when she was fifteen and he
was seventeen years of age. After graduating from Hardee County
High School two years early, she entered Florida Southern College
at the young of age sixteen, and Tommy was attending Vanderbilt
University in Nashville. During Mrs. Young's tenure at Florida Southern
College she was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and very
active in their sports program. She was FSC's women's archery
champion. > Mrs. Young's
teaching career began when she was twenty, making her nearly the same
age of some of her students. She first taught eleven years in
Hardee County and concluded her 40 year teaching career in Fort
Meade. Mrs. Young taught 9th and 10th grade English for 29 years
at Fort Meade High School. All students passing through her class knew
they would conjugate verbs and diagram sentences daily. She also
believed that all students should be exposed to the classics of English
Literature. Her many students still comment on hearing Julius Caesar's
death on a long playing record, and they requested that it be played
numerous times. Her greatest joy came from watching three generations
of students pass through her class and become adults, and enjoyed their
visits over the years. Mrs. Young was
very active in community service, dedicating herself to the American
Cancer Society . She was named Citizen of the Year in 1982 in
recognition for her service to the community. Mrs. Young was a
life-long Christian and attended the First United Methodist Church of
Bowling Green before her marriage in 1946, and then moved her
membership to the First United Methodist Church of Fort Meade. She was
a Sunday School teacher, choir member, and active in all areas of the
church.
> She was preceded
in death by her loving husband of 65 years Tommy Young; parents,
William and Ruth Cole Cliett; brothers, James Cliett and William
Cliett, Jr.; sister, Ida Mary Addison. > Mrs. Young is survived by her
daughters, Kathy Young, Fort Meade, FL, Jamie Harrell and husband
Scott, Fort Meade, FL; grandchildren, Elijah Harrell and Owen Harrell,
and seventeen nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Friday, September 25, 2015 at the First United Methodist
Church, 135 East Broadway, Fort Meade, FL. Funeral services will follow
at 11:00 a.m. in the church sanctuary with Rev. Marion Sortore, Karolyn
Nunnallee and Stan Foster officiating. Interment will be in Bowling
Green Cemetery, Bowling Green, FL. In lieu of flowers, donations may be
made to the American Cancer Society or the First United Methodist
Church of Ft. Meade Reid Hall Building Fund. Hancock Funeral Home, Fort
Meade, FL 863-285-8171. – Ledger, Wed. Sept. 23,
2015
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| JUNE DYER DAVIS - 91 - 1928 - 2019 - Teacher, Mostly Dixieland Elm. LAKELAND - June Dyer Davis passed away January 20th, 2019. > June was predeceased by husband Charles Davis, > and is survived
by many family members, friends, and students that loved her dearly.
June was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and teacher, and
she will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and grace. > June graduated high school from Summerlin Academy (Class of 1945) in Bartow, FL. She
attended Flora Macdonald College (now St. Andrews Presbyterian College)
for two years and completed her college education at Florida State
University (Class of 1949). June was a schoolteacher for over 30 years,
with the majority of those years at Dixieland Elementary School in Lakeland, Florida. >Those
wishing to honor her life can make a donation in her name to United
Methodist Temple, or to the Florida Fidelis Rho Scholarship Fund, to
help fund scholarships that assist young women pursuing a profession in
excellence in education (checks payable to Florida Fidelis Rho
Scholarship Fund, mailed to 447 Lake Carolyn Cir, Lakeland, FL 33813).
June was an active member of her church and was a charter
member of the Florida Fidelis Rho chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa (an
international honorary organization of women educators dedicated to
educational excellence, altruism, and world understanding). She would
have been a member of Alpha Delta Kappa for 50 years in March. A
celebration of life will be held at United Methodist Temple on Sunday,
February 3, 2019, at 11:30AM. A brief reception will follow. In
celebration of June and all the joy she brought to those around her,
the family requests that light or bright colors are worn to the
service. > Condolences may be sent to the family at www.heathfuneralchapel.com - Ledger, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019
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LAKELAND
-- Mrs. Annette Smith Capps, a retired school teacher for Southwest
Elementary School, died of heart failure Thursday (Feb. 3, 2005) at
Lakeland Regional Medical Center."It amazed me on the
street and at Publix and different places that we shopped, the people
would come up to her and say, "Mrs. Capps, you taught me in first
grade," her husband of 52 years, James D. Capps Sr. said. Born in St.
George, Ga., on April 22, 1929, while attending school, she had a
teacher with the same name as hers and decided to pursue a career as an
educator. She attended Wesleyan College in Macon, Ga., and graduated
with a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Stetson
University, where she met her husband. Shortly after the couple married
in Jacksonville, they came to Lakeland in 1953. Mrs. Capps began her
career with the Polk County School Board teaching at Lime Street
Elementary for a short time before she went to Southwest Elementary to
be closer to the home that she and her husband have lived in for the
last 50 years. Her career spanned 30 years, teaching primarily
first-graders until her retirement in the mid 1990s. For a number of
years, she taught first-grade Sunday school class at First Baptist
Church when it was on North Florida Avenue.As a member of the Garden
Club, she enjoyed growing flowers and plants in her yard. "We have some
beautiful crotons. Every year in the fall, we would go out and cut
crotons and she would have her room full of crotons," James D. Capps
said. She was a member of the state and national PTA. She was a member
of First Baptist Church at the Mall. In addition to her husband, James
D. Capps, > she is survived by her sons, James D. Capps Jr. and Chris D.
Capps, both of Lakeland; brother, Leroy Smith, Quitman, Ga.; six
grandchildren.Visitation will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at
Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Road. Services will be at
2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations
may be made to First Baptist Church at the Mall building fund, 1010 E.
Memorial Blvd., Lakeland, 33801. Ledger, Feb. 5, 2005
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LAKELAND - Jacquetta 'Jackie' Baker Asbury was born in Stem, North Carolina
on November 19, 1931. She passed away on January 14, 2019. She was
surrounded by her loving family in life, as she was in death and
anxiously held on to life for a visit from her newest great grandchild
Mia Grace Hatfield, who was born on December 31, 2018. >
Jackie was preceded in death by her loving husband Roy Columbus Asbury, parents Joe and Catherine Baker, her brothers Frank Baker and David Baker. Her daughter Laura Grace Williamson and granddaughter Elizabeth Grace Williamson. >Jackie is survived by
her son, Anthony Phillip Asbury and wife Carol of Miami, Florida; her
daughter Merri Asbury Elson and husband Jeffrey of Davenport, Florida.
Grandchildren Gwendolyn Williamson and wife Eleanor Mayer; Ellen
Williamson; Benjamin Williamson; Lisa Ann Howland; Jeffery Michael
Elson and wife Natalie; Adam Anthony Asbury and wife Carole; Beth
Victoria Hatfield with husband Nicholas. Great Grandchildren Nikki,
Hannah, Emma, Gavin, Brooke, Jacob and Mia Grace. Jackie loved
all children and teaching was her calling. She was a
teacher in Lakeland at Southwest Elementary, Crystal Lake Elementary
and she served as Assistant Principal at Griffin Elementary where she retired after 36 years. Jackie was a Home Economics teacher in North Carolina working at an orphanage the Masonic Home for Children and even coached the Girls Basketball Team.
Jackie was a much loved and respected member of the Lakeland
Rotary North Club. She served as District Governor during the 1997-1998
Rotary year. Jackie was a Benefactor, Major Donor, a Level 2 Bequest
Society Member (with Roy), and Paul Harris Fellow (+7). She served as
Past-President of the Lakeland Northside Sunrise Club. When that club
was discontinued, she joined the Lakeland North Club and served as
Lakeland North's Membership Chair, Foundation Chair, 'Ring the Bell'
for the Salvation Army Chair, Chair of the Club's Speaker's Bureau and many other positions. Along with her husband Roy, they attended 6 Rotary International Conventions
and was a Group Study Exchange Team leader taking a group of 6 women to
Bangladesh for 6 weeks. Jackie became a member of Lakeland
Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in April of 2006.
She was involved and committed to DAR and the goals of Patriotism,
Preservation and Education. She held several offices and served on the
executive board before becoming Regent in 2009. She held that position
until 2012, at which time she was unanimously elected to the position
of Honorary Regent. She always attended Florida State Conferences and
was pleased to attend the DAR national meeting, Continental Congress in
Washington, DC on two occasions. She was also a member of Heartlands'
Regent's Council. Jackie was a member of the Lakeland Chapter of
the Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority where she held many local offices and
was the State of Florida ESE President in 1971-72. Jackie was also a
volunteer at the Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, and she was a member
of the Lakeland Wedgewood Antique Club. Visitation will
be held on Friday, January 18, 2019, at Heath Funeral Chapel. On
Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 12:30 PM a light lunch will be served in
the Tribute Center at Heath Funeral Chapel. Services will follow at
2:00 PM and interment will be at Oak Hill Burial Park, in Lakeland, Florida following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Rotary Foundation at Rotary.org/donate . www.heathfuneralchapel.com
- Morrison Funeral Home, 3350 Mall Hill Drive, Lakeland, FL.
Funeral services to follow at 11:00 in the funeral home chapel. Burial to follow service at Oak Hill Burial Park. - Ledger , Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019
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| > GLORIA DUNN WASHINGTON - 66 - Polk Co. School Board LAKELAND - Gloria Dunn Washington of Lakeland, FL, died Wednesday, November 24, 2010, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, FL due to cancer. She was an educator for over 35 yrs in the Polk County School System. She was a member of the St. Mark United Methodist Church in Lakeland Fl. She was the daughter of the late Percy Dunn and the late Eleanor Dunn. She is survived by her husband: Leroy Washington-Lakeland, FL; three daughters: Cheryl Ford, Lakeland, FL, Candacy Washington, Tampa, FL, Daphne Fudge, Tampa, FL; two sisters: Eleanor Smith, Oklahoma City, OK, Evelyn Johnson, Birmingham, AL; one brother: PJ Dunn, Lakeland, FL; four grandchildren. Arrangements are being handled by Gause Funeral Home, 625 S. Holland Parkway, Bartow, FL where the family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Friday, December 3, 2010. Funeral service will be at First United Methodist Church 72 Lake Morton Drive at 11:00 AM, Saturday, December 4, 2010. Interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lakeland, FL gausefuneralhomeinc.com - Ledger, Dec. 1, 2010 |