WILLA Q. WELDON
Mrs. Willa Q. Weldon, 78, of 607 Cone Ave. died Monday, July 24, 2000, at her home. Mrs. Willa Queen Weldon was born to the late Arthur and Matilda Pope on March 10, 1922, in Jackson County, Fla., and moved to Panama City at an early age. On April 28, 1942, she was married to the late Mr. Robert Weldon Sr. To this union two children were born, Robert Jr. (who precedes her in death) and Charles Weldon. She was a faithful member of Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church until her death. She leaves to mourn her passing one son, Charles Weldon (Juanita) of Newnan, Ga.; three grandchildren: Shawna Weldon of Newnan, Ga., Markeith and Michelle Weldon of Detroit, Mich.; three special grandchildren: James and Sonya of Cleveland, Ohio, and Darlene of Detroit, Mich.; one daughter-in-law, Diane Weldon (Robert Jr.) of Detroit, Mich.; three brothers: Jacob Pope Sr. (Carrie) of Panama City, Emmanuel of Chicago, Ill., and Lynwood of West Palm Beach; four sisters-in-law, Panzy Mae of Ocala, Frances of Ft. Myers, Hannah of Chicago and Marie of Panama City; four very special friends: Rosa Byrd, Sunday Davis, Mary Newman and Motez Robinson, all of Panama City and a host of nieces, nephews and sorrowing friends. Funeral services for Mrs. Weldon will be held Saturday, July 29, at 11 a.m. in Greater Bethel AME Church with the Rev. O.C. Williams, officiating. Interment will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery. Public visitation will begin today at the funeral home from 2 to 8 p.m. The remains will lie in state one hour prior to services at the church.
Battle Memorial Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32401
McARTHUR T. BRYANT
Deacon McArthur Bryant of 726 E. 12th St., died Wednesday, July 26, 2000, in Bay Medical Center. He was a native of Jackson County, Fla. He attended the public school in Jackson County. Deacon Bryant moved to Panama City and united with Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorship of the Rev. W.R. Walker, and became an ordained Deacon thereafter. Deacon Bryant was employed with the City of Panama City from which he retired. He was a member of the Fraternal Organization Knights of Pythias for 36 years and served in many capacities in this organization. Deacon Bryant was musically inclined and was a member of the Sanctuary Choir and the Male Chorus. He was a member of the Stars of Joy Gospel Quartet for 26 years. He was a World War II veteran. Deacon Bryant was joined in holy matrimony to Lucy Ruth Pete and to this union two children were born. He leaves a legacy of cherished memories with a faithful and devoted wife, Mrs. Lucy R. Bryant; two daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Bryant Posey and Ms. Bettie C. Stewart; one son, Charles M. Bryant (Dorothy) all of Panama City, Fla.; one sister, Mrs. Estelle Banks of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; three grandchildren: Reginald Singletary and Anthony Fennell of Atlanta, Ga., and Victoria Bryant of Panama City; three great-grandchildren: Jasmine, Joyce and Billy Charles of Panama City; two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Clyde Foster of Panama City and Mrs. Earnestine Bowers of Greenwood, Fla. His Legacy will also be memorized by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and christian friends. Funeral services for Deacon Bryant will be held Sunday, July 30, at 1 p.m. in Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Michael Peterson and the Rev. Recie Reid, officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery. The remains will repose at the Church this evening from 7 to 9 p.m. and will lie in state at the Church on Sunday one hour prior to service time. The family will receive relatives and friends at 726 E. 12th St.
Peoples Funeral Home
Marianna, Fla. 32446
MARGARET O. CARMAN
Margaret O. Carman, age 75, of Fountain, Fla., died Thursday, July 27, 2000, in a local hospital. She was a native of Grand Rapids, Mich., and has been living in the Bay County area for the past 38 years. Mrs. Carman will be remembered as a devoted wife and mother. She is survived by her husband, Richard L.Carman of Fountain, Fla.; sons and daughters-in-law: Michael and Virginia Mulligan of Las Vegas, Nev., Edward and Andrea Carman of Panama City, Richard L. III and Betty Carman of Panama City, and Robert and Susan Carman of Warrick, R.I.; daughter and son-in-law, Phyllis and Arthur Powers of Tampa; sisters, Catherine Palmer of East Lansing, Mich., and Irene Gudorff of Dayton, Ohio; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Private memorial services will be held by the family.
Yorkshire Cremation and Casket Society
Panama City, Fla. 32405
WILLIAM W. FINLAW JR.
The Rev. William W. Finlaw Jr., D. Min., age 70, of Tallahassee, died Thursday, July 27, 2000, at his home. A Requiem Eucharist will be held Sunday, July 30, at 2 p.m. at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Tallahassee. The family will receive friends today from 3 to 7 p.m. at Bevis Funeral Home. It is suggested that gifts in memory of Dr. Finlaw be made to Holy Comforter Episcopal Day School Tuition Assistance Fund, 1500 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Dr. Finlaw served as Associate Rector of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church and as a certfied pastoral counselor at New Beginnings Counseling Center in Tallahassee. He is survived by his wife, Kay Finlaw of Tallahassee; four sons: the Rev. William W. Finlaw III of Lincoln, Neb., Arthur Finlaw of Panama City, Robert Finlaw of Pueblo, Colo., and James Finlaw of Denver, Colo.; three daughters: Susan Finlaw Dusseault of St. Petersburg, Fla., Kathryn Finlaw of Pueblo, Colo., and Amanda Castro of Denver, Colo. Also surviving are three sisters: Agnes Green of Traverse City, Mich., Rosemary Commeret and Anne Holmlund, both of Grand Rapids, Mich.; and five grandsons.
Bevis Colonial Funeral Home
Tallahassee, Fla. 32303
LUDIE J. GASTON
Mrs. Ludie J. Gaston, 73, of Port St. Joe, Fla., died July 22, 2000, in a local nursing center. Funeral services for Mrs. Gaston will be held today, July 29, at 2 p.m. in Church of God in Christ on Ave. D. in Port St. Joe, Fla., with Pastor Rosa Garland officiating. Interment to follow in Forest Hill Cemetery
in Port St. Joe, Fla. The family will receive relatives and friends at 2823 E.17th St.
Peoples Funeral Home
Marianna, Fla. 32446
JAMES HENRY ADKINS
Mr. James Henry Adkins, 80, of 6173 Short St., Panama City, died Friday, July 28, 2000, at a local hospital. He was a lifelong resident of Bay County, a retired foreman of Wainwright Shipyard, and was Pentecostal by faith. Mr. Adkins was a retired veteran of the United States Army having served in World War II where he was a recipient of both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart award. He is preceded in death by his son James H. Adkins Jr. Mr. Adkins is survived by his wife, Ann Elizabeth Adkins of Panama City; three sons: Paul Adkins of Fountain, Bill Adkins and wife Tiffany and Stacey Adkins and wife Alicia all from Bayou George; four daughters: Mary Bell Keifer of Lynn Haven, Mary Louise Rumpf of Texas, Laverne Pledger and husband Gerald of Deerpoint Lake, and Nancy Etta Lindsey and husband Tim of Southport; two stepsons, Lynn Anderson and Lavoy Anderson, both of Panama City; 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Mr. Adkins will be conducted on Monday, July 31 at 2 p.m. in the Southerland Family Funeral Home and Chapel with interment to follow in the Lynn Haven Cemetery. The family will be receiving friends this afternoon at the funeral home from 3 to 5 p.m.
Southerland Family Funeral Homes
Panama City, FL
JOSEPH B. BROWN
A memorial service for Joseph B. Brown of Callaway, who passed away on July 6, 2000, will be held Saturday, August 5, at 10 a.m. at the Parkway Presbyterian Church, 505 South Tyndall Parkway. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes donations be made to Parkway Presbyterian Church Choir Fund in honor of Mr. Brown, who was a member of the choir for many years.
Southerland Family Funeral Homes
Panama City, FL 32405
McARTHUR T. BRYANT
Deacon McArthur Bryant of 726 E. 12th St., died Wednesday, July 26, 2000, in Bay Medical Center. Funeral services for Deacon Bryant will be held today, July 30, at 1 p.m. in Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. Michael Peterson and the Rev. Recie Reid, officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery. The remains will lie in state at the Church one hour prior to service time. The family will receive relatives and friends at 726 E. 12th St.
Peoples Funeral Home
Marianna, Fla. 32446
RHONDA YVETTE CRAWFORD
On an occasion such as this it is hard to put into words the deep feeling we had for one who was beloved by all who knew her. No one knows of the grief that's born in silence for our loved one, Rhonda Yvette Crawford, who made her earthly entrance July 17, 1953. She was born to Mary Frances Crawford and Eddie Washington in Jackson Hospital, Marianna, Fla. She grew up in a loving and Christian home with her grandparents, Deacon Arthur and Thelma Crawford along with her brother and a host of aunts and uncles. At an early age, she joined St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Marianna. After finishing Marianna High School in 1971, she matriculated to Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee and received her pharmacy degree in 1976. During her professional career, she worked for Tuskegee Veterans Hospital, Atlanta Veterans Hospital, Revco Drugs, Eckerd Drugs and Tyndall Air Force Base Pharmacy for several years in Panama City. After moving to Panama City, she joined St. John Missionary Baptist Church and was active in the Sanctuary Choir, Usher's Board and Youth Department. Other affiliations include: Immediate Past President of the Panama City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; past second Vice President of Bay County Branch NAACP; member, Bay County FAMU Alumni Association and FAMU Pharmacy Association. Using her professional knowledge and skills she was a role model and mentor for many area youths aspiring to become pharmacists. A loving family who will cherish the echoes that remain includes two brothers, Gregory Franklin Crawford (Sheryl) of Lithonia, Ga.; aunts and uncles: Sallye Crawford of New York City, William Arthur Crawford (Mamie) of Jacksonville, Fla., Thomas Crawford (Betty) of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Ronald Crawford (Helen) of Decatur, Ga., Norman Crawford (Linda) of Montgomery, Ala., Charles Crawford (Nancy) of Decatur, Charlene Crawford Brown of Hampton, Ga., Virgil Crawford of Atlanta, Ricky Crawford (Carolyn) of Decatur, Pamela Crawford-Redding (Earnest) of Decatur, Gerald Crawford (Tina) of Eastpoint, Ga., Dorothy Wynn of Tallahassee, Gertrude Green and Leo Washington of Marianna; one great aunt, Lou Alice Clark of Marianna; one niece, Jana Crawford; several cousins and friends. Funeral services for Ms. Crawford will be held Monday, July 31, 2000, at St. John Missionary Baptist Church at 11 p.m. and interment will follow at Orangehill Memorial in Marianna. Visitation for Ms. Crawford is today at St. John Missionary Baptist Church from 5 to 8 p.m.
Gainer Family Funeral Home Inc.
Panama City, FL 32405
GEORGIA ANN FAXON
Mrs. Georgia Ann Faxon, 83, of Graceville, passed Thursday in the Jackson County Convalescent Center in Graceville. She was a native of Jackson County and a member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Campbellton. She is survived by one daughter, Nettie Hall and husband Lennon of Campbellton; three sons: Samuel Faxon and wife Helen of Campbellton, Douglas Faxon and wife Laverne of Graceville, Thaddius Faxon and wife Corazon of Honolulu, Hawaii; two sisters, Ardie Mae Crews of Graceville and Rena Cox of Panama City; 18 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 2, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul A.M.E. Church with the Rev. James Rouse, the Rev. Richard Curl and the Rev. Angus Jackson officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery with Christian Memorial Chapel of Graceville in charge of arrangements. The remains will lie in state at the Church one hour prior to the service.
Christian Memorial Chapel
Graceville, FL 32440
GEORGE LATHERY JR.
Mr. George Lathery Jr., 68, of 3627 Osmond Ave. in Panama City, and formerly of Johnstown, N.Y., went to be with the Lord on July 26. He was a graduate of Johnstown High School under the G.I. Bill and received special recognition from the governor of the State of New York. He was an Army veteran and had served a foreign tour of duty during the Korean War. He was employed by the Beechnut Corp. in Canajahorie, N.Y. for 23 years. After retiring, Mr. Latherie resumed carpentry work until he became disabled in 1987. He was married to Loretta Bentley for 44 years. Survivors include his wife, Loretta Lathery of Panama City; daughters, Georgette Edwards and Melissa Achzet, both of Johnstown; son, Gregory L. Lathery of Fort Benning, Ga.; nine grandchildren: Kristen Jennings, Nicole Haulicek, Justin Edwards, Katherine Lathery, Eric Achzet, Lindsay Achzet, Ashley Edwards and twins Elysse and Taylor Lathery. He is also survived by several nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Virginia Roe Lathery; sister, Louise Newberry; brothers, Bobby and Endroin Lathery; and special grandmother, Grace Roe Woodlums. Funeral service for Mr. Lathery will be held Monday, July 31, at 11 a.m. at the Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home with the Rev. Mike Murphy officiating. Internment will follow in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Callaway Community Church, 5110 Beaver St., Callaway FL 32404. Mr. Lathery had been an active member of the church since he rededicated his life to the Lord at an Easter.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32402
