VIRGINIA TUPKELEWICZ
Mrs. Virginia Tupkelewicz, age 81, of 19306 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach, Fla., died Thursday, Aug. 17, 2000, at a local nursing facility. She had been a resident of the area for 21 years, coming here from Birmingham, Ala., and was Protestant by faith. Mrs. Tupkelewicz was a homemaker who loved art, sketching and nature. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, John Tupkelewicz of Panama City Beach; a son, John Michael Tupkelewicz of Birmingham; a daughter, Kim Brewer of Land O' Lakes, Fla.; sisters, Maxine Parnell of Panama City Beach and Edyth Chambers of Jacksonville, Fla.; five grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and several great-nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, at Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday, Aug. 19, from 2 to 3 p.m., one hour prior to service time.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32402
EDMUND WEYMAN STROTHER JR.
Edmund Weyman Strother Jr., 85, of 324 E. Beach Dr., Panama City, Fla., died Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2000, in a local hospital. He was a native of Columbus, Ga., and was in the restaurant business before retiring in 1969. As an avid boat lover, he was a past member of the U.S. Power Squadron and Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was preceded in death by a son, Edmund Weyman Strother III. He is survived by his wife, Myrle Peacock Strother; two daughters, Helen Strother Dunkel of Jacksonville, Fla., Sandra Strother Hudson of Athens, Ga.; a step-son, Rodney C. Taylor of Gravity, Iowa; five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Graveside funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. EST in Parkhill Cemetery, Columbus, Ga., with the Rev. Tom Jones officiating.
Wilson Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla.
TONYA DIANE GASTON WESTRY
Mrs. Tonya Diane Gaston Westry, 33, of 1317 Kensinger Place died Tuesday Aug. 15, 2000, in her home. Funeral services for Mrs. Westry will be held today, Aug. 18, at 2 p.m at Bethel A.M.E. Church on Ave. C in Port St. Joe, with Elder Ben Morning officiating. Interment to follow in Forest Hill Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends at 1317 Kensinger Place.
Peoples Funeral Home
Marianna, Fla. 32446
Arthur E. Cutler, L.F.D.
JONATHAN 'JOE' BRUNSON JR.
Mr. Jonathan "Joe" Brunson Jr., 51, of 534 E. Eighth St., Panama City, Fla., died Thursday, Aug. 10, 2000, in Tampa, Fla. He had been a resident of this area for many years prior to moving to Tampa. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today, August 19, at St. John Baptist Church with Dr. Rory L. Bedford officiating. Interment will follow at Redwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Jonathan "Joe" Brunson Memorial Fund at Bay Bank. The body will lie in state at the church today from 9 a.m. until service time. The family will receive relatives and friends at 514 E. Eighth St.
Peoples Funeral Home
Marianna, Fla. 32446
LEE CANTY
Mr. Lee Canty, age 94, of Panama City, died on Monday, Aug. 14, 2000, in a local nursing home. The funeral services will be held today, Aug. 19, at 2 p.m. at Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church with the Rev. O.C. Williams, pastor, officiating. The remains will lie in state one hour prior to services at the church. The family will receive friends at their residence of 616 E. Ninth St.
Battle Memorial Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32401
MOLLY JOY GAY CARTER
Mrs. Joy Carter passed from this life on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2000. She was born in Cairo, Ga., on June 25, 1935, to Tobe and Ruby Gay. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her former husband, William (Bill) M. Carter of Ormond Beach, and their daughter, Lisa Lambert and husband Chris of Ormond Beach; three brothers: Martin "Buddy" Gay of Wewahitchka, Troy Gay of Kennesaw, Ga., and Toby Gay of Quincy; one sister, Mary Ellen Marshall of Panama City; numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral services will be conducted this afternoon, Aug. 19, at 2 p.m. in First Baptist Church of Wewahitchka. Internment will follow at Poplar Head Cemetery. Asked to serve as pallbearers are: Mark Gay, Mitchell Gay, Dale Marshall, Croska Williamson, Jamie Gibbens and Sidney O'Neal.
Southerland Family Funeral Homes
Panama City, Fla. 32405
MARY STEVENS ELLIOTT
Mary Stevens Elliott, of Lynn Haven, Fla., died Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2000, in her home. She had been a resident of Bay County since 1964, moving here from Cleveland, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Elliott, and a daughter, Elizabeth Erin Elliott. She was a member of St. Dominic's Roman Catholic Church. She is survived by three sons: Mark Elliott, Jimmy Elliott, both of Panama City, Billy Elliott and his wife Sharon of Baton Rouge, La.; six grandchildren: Elizabeth Elliott, Sarah Elliott, Christopher Elliott, Erin Elliott, Andrew Elliott, Alexander Elliott; four brothers: Lynn Stevens of Daytona Beach, Fla., Larry Stevens of Panama City, Steve Stevens of Cordas Lake, Ariz., Jon Stevens of Kent, Ohio. Funeral services will be held today at 10 a.m. in St. Dominic's Roman Catholic Church with Monsignor William Crowe officiating. Those desiring to may make a contribution to American Heart Association in memory of Mary Elliott.
Wilson Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla.
DIANNE AUDREY SHIRLEY GIBSON
Mrs. Dianne Audrey Shirley Gibson, age 55, of 1320 Bus. U.S. 98, Panama City, Fla., died Thursday, Aug. 17, 2000, at a local hospital. She had been a resident of the area for two years, coming here from Jacksonville, Fla. Mrs. Gibson was a school teacher for 25 years in the Duval and Clay County school systems. She also taught in private schools. Mrs. Gibson was named to the Outstanding Elementary Educators Association. Mrs. Gibson was a very gifted musician and played the piano. She had been a member, and on the music ministry staff, at both Epiphany Episcopal Chuch in Jacksonville and most recently Holy Nativity Episcopal Church in Panama City, Fla. She was also formerly on staff at Trinity United Methodist Church and a former member of St. Catherine's Episcopal Church, both in Jacksonville. She was a member of the "Potpourri Singers," a musical ministry that performed for residents of nursing homes in Jacksonville. Mrs. Gibson was compassionate and was involved in many service projects that ministered to the needs of many people including the Big Brothers / Big Sisters Program in Jacksonville, Fla. She is survived by a daughter, Kathy Gordon-Dick and her husband Steve of Panama City; a brother, Judd Shirley of Jacksonville, Fla.; a granddaughter, Sarah Nicole Dick; and a cousin, Jeanne Giesen of Wisconsin. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cdr. Robert A. Gibson, Ret. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 21, at Holy Nativity Episcopal Church. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 22, at Epiphany Episcopal Church in Jacksonville. Interment will follow at Jacksonville Memory Gardens. Flowers may be sent to Epiphany Episcopal Church, 5230 Harlow Blvd., Jacksonville, Fla. 32210, phone number: (904) 771-4492.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32402
CLARENCE ROBINSON SR. 'BIG MAN'
Mr. Clarence Robinson Sr. "Big Man," 55, of 208 Sims Ave., died Sunday, Aug. 13, 2000, in his home. He was a native of Opalocka, Fla., and a resident of Panama City for many years. Funeral services for Mr. Robinson will be held today, Aug. 19, at 2:30 p.m. in St. Temple Apostolic Church, 1423 Fountian Ave., with the Rev. James Bush Jr. officiating. Interment to follow in Hillside Cemetery. The remains will lie in state at the church today from 10 a.m. until service time. The family will receive relatives and friends at 1015 Church Ave.
Peoples Funeral Home
Marianna, Fla. 32446
HENRY GRADY SWICORD II
Henry Grady Swicord II (Hank), 74, passed away Friday, Aug. 18, 2000, in the embrace of loving family and friends. He had battled lung cancer since April of this year. Hank was born to his parents, Julia Worn Swicord and Henry Grady Swicord Sr., in Samosat, Fla., on July 24, 1926, and was raised on a farm in Climax, Ga., where his family had been pioneer settlers in Decatur County. Mr. Swicord was educated at Climax Consolidated Schools, Emory University and University of South Carolina, where he studied naval engineering. He served as a naval officer in World War II, where he was part of Operation Crossroads, which tested the atomic bomb in the Pacific. He was a member of the U.S. Occupational Forces in the Pacific, and served in the Korean War, and decorated for his service. He married Jean Carroll Stender of Columbia, S.C., in 1948, and became her life's companion. The Swicords came to Bay County in 1959. Mr. Swicord, a pioneer entrepreneur and civic leader in Panama City, helped to found the Beaches Chamber of Commerce, and served as its charter president. He was a charter member of Beach Optimist Club, as well as life member, past president and zone lt. governor. He lived the Optimist Creed and believed in being a "friend to the youth." Mr. Swicord was a natural leader, and volunteered many hours in projects to benefit a young but growing community of beach families. As a loving father, he supported Little League and scouting, and taught martial arts to young people. He served as (past) president of the Beach Little League and for years sponsored the Flagala Little League team. His visionary civic interest led Mr. Swicord to serve as past chairman and board member of the Bay County Planning Commission, and to devote hours to the benefit of the beach community in the Tourist Development Commission, Bay County Motel Association and other business accociations and councils. As the founder and former owner of Flagala Hardware and Construction, Mr. Swicord was able to bring his business experience to a broader good when he was appointed to the State of Florida Private Industry Council and the Guardian Council for the NFIB. Mr. Swicord was also a delegate to the Governor's Conference on Small Business. In 1990, Swicord was honored as the Rotary Club's Outstanding Civic Leader. In June of this year, Mr. Swicord was greatly moved to be honored by the Panama City Beaches Chamber of Commerce, which awarded him a Pioneer Award in gratitude for nearly a lifetime of service to his community. Hank Swicord is survived by his loving wife, Jean Swicord; together they celebrated fifty years of marriage in 1999. He was preceded in death by their son, Timothy Michael Swicord, but survived by two sons, H. Grady Swicord III, DMD, of Birmingham, Ala. and Steven Carl Swicord of Seattle, Wash., and a daughter, Robin Stender Swicord of Santa Monica, Calif., and Vashon Island, Wash.; Hank Swicord's sisters, Janette Light and Dee DeLuca and brother, Joe Wallace Swicord; as well as seven grandchildren, and other extended family. A memorial service will be held Sunday, Aug. 20, at Gulf Presbyterian Church, 271 S. State 79 on the beach. Visitation with family and friends is at 3 p.m. with the service at 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations may be made to Beach Optimist Club, P.O. Box 9259, Panama City, Fla. 32417, for a scholarship fund in memory of Mr. Swicord.
Southerland Family Funeral Homes
Panama City, Fla. 32405
LURA CHANCE WARREN
Lura Chance Warren, 97, of Panama City, died Thursday, Aug. 17, 2000, in her home. She had been a resident of Panama City for 75 years, moving here from Jackson County, Fla. In her younger years, she enjoyed cutting hair, homemaking, taking care of her son and many special extended family children. She began a career outside her home at the age of 65. Retiring from Bay Medical Center, where she was lovingly known as "Granny," this industrious lady joked and kept them all in line. She retired as one of their oldest employees. She will be deeply missed. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hosea Lee Warren Sr., and her son, Hosea Lee Warren Jr. She is survived by two brothers, Floyd Chance of Marianna, Virgil Chance of Mobile, Ala.; daughter-in-law, Juanita Warren; five grandchildren: Jerry Pate, Edward Warren, Wanda Owens, all of Panama City, Frances Burnworth of Atlanta, Ga., Lura Jane Jackson of San Diego, Calif.; six great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren and four special nieces: Shirley McNeil, Rebecca Cobb, Brenda Poteat and Joyce Webb; and many other nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. in Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Winifred Carter officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. today.
Wilson Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla.
