Mildred L. Steele
Mildred L. Steele of High Springs died Friday at North Florida Regional Medical Center after a long illness. She was 79.
Mrs. Steele was a homemaker. She was born in Leesburg, Ala., and moved to High Springs 58 years ago.
Mrs. Steele was a Baptist.
Survivors include her husband, Sam Steele of High Springs; four sons, Sidney Steele of Alachua and Ronnie Steele, Jacky Steele and Michael Steele, all of High Springs; one sister, Christine Fortenberry of Centre, Ala.; 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
James Byrne McCracken Jr.
James Byrne McCracken Jr. of Gainesville died Thursday at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital after a traffic accident. He was 31.
Mr. McCracken was a facility contracting manager for AvMed Health Care. He received a biology degree from Tulane University, and a master's of business and a master's of health systems degrees from the University of Florida.
Mr. McCracken was born in Falls Church, Va., and grew up in St. Louis. He came to Gainesville eight years ago from New Orleans.
He was a member of the American College of Health Care Executives.
He was an Episcopalian.
Survivors include his father, James B. McCracken Sr. of St. Louis; his mother, Amelia A. McCracken of St. Louis; a sister, Kathryn Anne McCracken of St. Louis; his companion, Karen King of Gainesville; his maternal grandmother, J. Hodge Alves of Spanish Fort, Ala.; and his paternal grandmother, Dorothy McCracken of Cedar Hill, Tenn.
Lillie McRae Bridges
STARKE - Lillie McRae Bridges of Starke died Saturday at Whispering Pines Care Center following a long illness. She was 93.
Mrs. Bridges was lifelong resident of Bradford County.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Starke. She also belonged to the Starke Women's Club and the Bradford Hospital Auxiliary.
Survivors include her sister, Dolly Spiers of Starke; her brother, Donald "Bill" McRae of Starke; and several nieces and nephews.
Paul Brooks
STARKE - Paul Brooks of Hampton Lake died Friday at Shands at Starke following an automobile accident. He was 59.
Mr. Brooks was in management and sales of forestry and construction equipment.
He was born and raised in Macon, Ga., and came from Perry to Hampton Lake in 1980.
Mr. Brooks was a member of the First Baptist Church of Starke. He was actively involved with the National Sporting Clays Association and a member of Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, the National Rifle Association and the Bradford Sportsmen's Farm.
Survivors include his wife, Peggy Brooks of Hampton Lake; four daughters, Tonya Herring of Starke, Paula Touchton of Macon, Vickie Gouin of Jacksonville, and Sandy Ergle of Petrolia, Texas; a sister, Gail Tucker of Macon; and eight grandchildren.
Irene B. Chewning
DOWLING PARK - Irene B. Chewning of Branford died Friday at the Good Samaritan Center in Dowling Park.
She was 81.
Mrs. Chewning was a housewife who was born in Branford and lived most of her life in Dixie and Lafayette counties. Mrs. Chewning was a member of Lydia Baptist Church in Cross City.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Pasco Chewning, and her son, Michael Chewning.
Survivors include two sons, George D. and Bruce Chewning, both of Old Town; seven sisters, Hazel Carter of Plant City, Marie Terry of Mayo, Hermie Drew of Sacramento, Calif., Lela Moore of DeBary, Frances Descaro of Branford, Beaulah Angel of Tampa and Margaret Hall of Orlando.
Mattie Rachel Davis
LAKE CITY - Mattie Rachel Davis of Branford died Friday at the Lake City Medical Center following a long illness. She was 88.
Mrs. Davis was a homemaker.
She was born in Adel, Ga., and moved to Branford in 1983.
Survivors include two daughters, Imogene Sullivan and Shelby Jean Williams, both of Branford; one son, Curtis K. Davis of Branford; three sisters, Millie Pearl Fletcher of Perry, Idell Gillman of Alachua, and Faye Cannon of Branford; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
Joe Bradley Forsyth
STARKE - Joe Bradley Forsyth of Hampton died Friday at Shands at Starke after a short illness. He was 95.
Mr. Forsyth was a farmer.
He was a lifetime resident of Bradford County. He was a member of Pine Level Baptist Church in Starke.
Survivors include a daughter, Ina Horne of Hampton; two sons, Otis Forsyth of Keystone Heights and Vernon Forsyth of Hampton; nine grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren and great-great- grandchildren.
Loca Belle Croft Graham
LAKE CITY - Loca Belle Croft Graham of Lake City died Friday afternoon at Shands Lake Shore Hospital in Lake City after a brief illness. She was 84.
Mrs. Graham was born in Union County and lived most of her life in Columbia County. She was a member of the Phillippi Baptist Church and the Mikesville Women's Club.
Survivors include a son, Edwin Graham of Lake City; a daughter, Alice Pasupathi of Las Vegas; a brother, Dillon Croft of Lake Butler; three sisters, Zeluan Crawford of Lake Butler, and Catherine Brannen and Carolyn Sauls, both of Jacksonville; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.
Tommy Vinson Morgan
Tommy Vinson Morgan of Gainesville died Friday in Gainesville after a long illness. He was 47.
He was the owner and operator of Quality Transmission and Morgan Auto Sales.
He was a lifelong resident of Gainesville.
Mr. Morgan was a Baptist. He was a past member of the Gainesville Elks B.P.O.E. Lodge 990.
Survivors include a daughter, Jennifer Ann Morgan of Minneapolis; a son, Shawn V. Morgan of Gainesville; six sisters, Ann Craig of South Carolina, Doris Harrison of Newberry, Retha Brooks of St. Augustine, Shirley Poindexter and Cathy Lawson, both of Gainesville, and Jane Mann of Zephyrhills; two brothers, Jackie C. and Richard Melvin, both of Zephyrhills; his companion, Kelly Higgins; and many nieces and nephews.
The Rev. W.W. "Wrete" Hill
BRANFORD - The Rev. W.W. "Wrete" Hill of Branford died Friday at his home following a long illness. He was 87.
Mr. Hill served as pastor for numerous churches in Suwannee, Gilchrist, Lafayette and Dixie counties.
He was born in Lafayette County and was a lifelong resident.
Mr. Hill was a member of the Lafayette Baptist Association and the Hatchbend Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Doshie Hill of Branford; two sons, Joel Hill of Branford and Michael Hill of Allen, Texas; two sisters, Bertha Wood of Glen St. Mary and Florence Kent of Branford; four grandchildren; and four great- grandchildren.
Robert Emmett Cherico
BRONSON - Robert Emmett Cherico of Bronson died Jan. 28 at his home. He was 75.
Mr. Cherico was retired from the U.S. Navy. He was born in White Plains, N.Y., and moved from Jacksonville to Bronson 10 years ago.
Mr. Cherico was a Lutheran.
He was a former member of the Golf Course Supervisors Associations and the Golf Collector Society of America. He also enjoyed fishing.
Survivors include two sons, Robert Edward Cherico of Jacksonville and Roger Blake Cherico of Dunwoody, Ga.; three brothers, Bill Cherico of Bronson, Fred Cherico of Merrimack, N.H., and Donald Cherico of Missouri; a sister, Beatrice Ranaudo of Spring Hill; and two grandchildren.
Reba L. Davis
ARCHER - Reba L. Davis of Archer died Monday at North Florida Rehab and Specialty Care Center in Gainesville after a long illness. She was 83.
Mrs. Davis was a retired beautician. Born in Marion County, she was a lifelong resident of the area.
Survivors include a sister, Eva Holder of Inverness; a grandson, William G. "Gary" Sullivan of Bronson; a niece, Bertie Sheffield of Bronson; and two great-grandsons.
