Jethro Ward
Jethro Ward, a lifelong resident of Gainesville, died at his home Tuesday. He was 50.
Mr. Ward was a construction worker and a member of the Church of God.
He attended the public schools of Alachua County.
Survivors include three sons, Jeffery Ward of Connecticut and Eric Turner and Jason Ward, both of Gainesville; five daughters, Tina Ward of Connecticut and Kawana Ward, Mary Clements and Sheila Ward and Regina Ward, all of Gainesville; his mother, Ethel Richardson of Gainesville; five sisters, Doris Austin, Joann Durrant, Mae Vesta Carter and Edith Woods, all of Gainesville, and Eddie Mae Jackson of Perry; seven brothers, Sammy Richardson, the Rev. Johnny B. Richardson, Rayfield Richardson, Jimmy Ward, Dale Johnson and Paul Goodman, all of Gainesville, and Willie Lee Richardson of Wilmington, Del.; and 13 grandchildren.
Horace Williams Sr.
Horace Williams Sr. of Gainesville died Wednesday following a brief illness. He was 76.
The Lake City native moved to Gainesville from Covington, Ga., in 1956.
He was a retired truck driver and security officer. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of the Southeast Tenth Avenue Church of Christ, where he served as a song leader.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Durden Williams of Gainesville; five daughters, Mary W. Davis of Covington, Ga., Lovette Williams Tolen of Jacksonville, Mamie Ivey and Carol Williams, both of Miami, and Barbara Richardson of Gainesville; five sons, Robert Williams of Aurora, Colo., Willie Williams of Covington, Ga., Cornelius Williams of Lithonia, Ga., and Horace Williams Jr. and Harold Williams, both of Miami; two brothers, Edward Williams of Tennessee and Robert Williams of Lovejoy, Ga.; 19 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
J. Wayne Conner
UF professor helped build key programs
J. Wayne Conner, a distinguished service professor at the University of Florida and former chairman of the department of foreign languages, died Sunday at his residence in Gainesville following an illness. He was 81.
Dr. Conner was born in Peterson, Utah, and moved to Gainesville in 1962, when he joined UF as professor of romance languages and literatures and chairman of the department of foreign languages.
His graduate education at Queens University and Princeton was interrupted by his service as an officer in the Canadian Army stationed in the European theater (1942-1945).
At UF, he carried out an orderly development and expansion of the foreign language programs resulting in separate departments of classics, Germanic and Slavic, and Asian and African languages and literatures. He also was a leader in the creation of the program in linguistics. In 1977, the university recognized his contributions by promoting him to distinguished service professor.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Aileen G. Conner; a brother, Melville "Tony" Conner of British Columbia, Canada; three daughters, Dr. Alison Conner of Honolulu, Hawaii, Cathie Conner Delgado of Houston, Texas, and Johanna Conner Ingley of Gainesville; a son, Lt. Commander Wayne Conner of Marinette, Wis.; 10 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Thomas Edward Hayes Jr.
Thomas Edward Hayes Jr., a lifelong resident of Gainesville, died Saturday following a brief illness. He was 76.
Mr. Hayes was a retired painter and a member of Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church.
He served in the U.S. Army-Air Force during World War II.
He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1947 and later attended the Florida Normal & Industrial College and Bethune-Cookman College.
Survivors include two sisters, Dorothy H. Robinson and Gladys M. Hayes, both of Gainesville; and three brothers, James M. Hayes and Rawleigh Hayes, both of Gainesville, and Vernon Hayes of Fort Lauderdale.
Avie Brack McCall
MAYO -- Avie Brack McCall of Mayo died Tuesday in Gainesville. She was 80.
Mrs. McCall was a lifelong resident of Lafayette County.
She was a homemaker and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mayo, where she was involved with the Women's Circle.
She was a 50-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter No. 196 in Mayo.
Mrs. McCall was the daughter of the late Julian N. and Estelle Hamlin Brack.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Artie McCall.
Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Owen and Margaret McCall of Mayo; a daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Foye Jackson of Mayo; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Deborah Richardson
Deborah Richardson, a lifelong resident of Gainesville, died Dec. 5 at Shands at the University of Florida following a brief illness. She was 42.
Mrs. Richardson attended Santa Fe Community College. She was majoring in business.
She was a member of the Church of God by Faith, where she was a member of the Home Mission and the Hospitality Committee.
Survivors include her father, Sloan Richardson Sr. of Gainesville; and three sisters, Valerie Harden, Evelyn Henderson and Kaytrina Richardson, all of Gainesville.
Mildred Greene Walker
Mildred Greene Walker of Gainesville died Sunday at the Hospice House of Gainesville. She was 83.
Mrs. Walker was born in Dothan, Ala., and moved to Gainesville from Miami 13 years ago.
She was a homemaker.
She attended Antioch Baptist Church in LaCrosse.
Mrs. Walker was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Gordon Walker.
Survivors include two sons and a daughter-in-law, James and Gail Walker of Gainesville and Charles Walker of Gainesville; a daughter and son-in-law, Cheryl and John Miller of Gainesville; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the Hospice House of Gainesville.
Pulmer Williams
HIGH SPRINGS -- Pulmer Williams died Monday at his residence in High Springs following an extended illness. He was 78.
Mr. Williams was born in Tallahassee and moved to High Springs from Fort Lauderdale 23 years ago.
He was a custodian and a Baptist.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Survivors include two daughters, Pearlie Mae Williams and Elnora Williams, both of Fort Lauderdale; a son, Eddie Williams of High Springs; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Annie Laura Hendricks
FANNING SPRINGS - Annie Laura Hendricks died Monday at her daughter's home. She was 76.
Mrs. Hendricks moved from Decatur, Tenn., to Cross City 38 years ago.
She attended Trenton Church of God. She enjoyed cooking, embroidery and spending time with her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ward Hendricks.
Survivors include daughters Wanda Mathews of Birchwood, Tenn., Ellan Hogan of Big Springs, Tenn., Frances Valentine of Old Town, Becky Norris of Cross City and Sheila Gainey of Fanning Springs; sons Marvin Hendricks of Bell and Ronald and Jerry Hendricks, both of Cross City; sisters Joyce Smith of Dayton, Tenn., and Lottie King and Patricia Goforth, both of Decatur; three brothers, Ben Colbough of Riceville, Tenn., Hobe Colbough of Decatur and Wesley Colbough of Cleveland, Tenn.; 24 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and five great- great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Rick Gooding Funeral Home.
Johnny Ray Jones
Johnny Ray Jones, mayor and lifetime resident of Otter Creek in Levy County, died Monday at his home after a long illness. He was 62.
He served on the town council for 24 years, the past six as mayor. He was a veteran of the Korean War.
He is survived by his companion and caretaker, Wendy Snow; a son, John Raymond Jones of South Bend, Ind.; brothers J.C. Hudson of Otter Creek, Elmer Johns of South Bend and Harold Johns of Bell.; and a sister, Thelma Soloman of South Bend.
Arrangements by Knauff Funeral Home.
Curtis Richard Page
STARKE - Curtis Richard "Ricky" Page died Monday in his home. He was 51.
Mr. Page was born in Savannah, Ga., and moved to Starke from Pembroke, Ga., 27 years ago. He was a truck driver for Winn-Dixie, and he attended Starke United Pentecostal Church.
Survivors include his wife, Beverly Page; sons David Page of Lake Butler, Matt Williams of Lawtey and Greg and Chris Page, both of Starke; a daughter, Erin Adams of Lake Butler; a sister, Brenda Whitehead of Starke; brothers Troy Page of Guyton, Ga., Lemon Page of Valdosta, Ga., and Truman, Hughlynn, Evan and Tim Page, all of Pembroke; and eight grandchildren.
Arrangements by Archie Tanner Funeral Home.
Curtis Rollin Reames
STARKE - Curtis Rollin Reames of Starke died Monday in Jacksonville due to injuries sustained in a car accident. He was 60.
Mr. Reames was a truck driver. Born in Baxley, Ga., he moved from Baxley to Starke at a young age. He was a Baptist.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Reames of Starke; sons Charles Rollin Reames of Lake Butler and Randall Reames of Starke; brothers William Paul Reames of Lawtey and James Calvin Reames of Augusta, Ga.; sisters Wanda Quinn and Ruby McClellan, both of Starke, Betty Moody of Lawtey and Lavinia Judd of Ocala; and five grandchildren.
Arrangements by Archie Tanner Funeral Home.
