Willie Kay Rogers
Willie Kay Rogers, 65, of Bartow, died Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.
Born Aug. 14, 1938, in Clarksdale, Miss., Mrs. Rogers moved to Bartow 34 years ago.
She was a central supply technician for Bartow Memorial Hospital. She was a member of Mt. Gilboa Missionary Baptist Church in Bartow.
Survivors include: her husband, Archie Rogers, Jr.; four daughters, Harriet R. Love of Bartow, Carolyn A. Rogers of Marietta, Ga., Gwendolyn F.W. Cooper of Bartow, and Lydia R. Ricks of Bartow; one son, Archie Rogers, III, of Bartow; two sisters, Madie B. Jones of Plant City and Margaret Long of West Helena, Ark; two brothers, Jessie Chatman, Jr., of Laurel, Mass., and Jimmie Chatman of Lakeland; five grandchildren and one great-granchild.
Visitation: Friday, Dec. 5, from 3 to 8 p.m., at Gause Funeral Home in Bartow.
The funeral: Saturday, Dec. 6, at 11 a.m., at Mt. Gilboa Missionary Baptist Church, 1205 East Martin Luther King Blvd.
Interment: Wildwood Cemetery, Bartow.
O.C. Hunter
O.C. Hunter, 86, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, at New Horizon Share Home in Winter Haven.
A resident of Bartow for 46 years, he moved here from Bowling Green, where he was born on April 4, 1917. Mr. Hunter was a commercial refrigeration specialist, and had worked for Orange-Co for 18 years. He had formerly worked with Mineco Corp. for 11 years.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and VFW Post #2405 in Bartow, and the Masonic Lodge in Bowling Green. Mr. Hunter was a World War II veteran of the Air Force.
Survivors include his wife, Annette Hunter; two daughters, Judith Stevens of Millbrook, N.Y., and Janice Phillips of The Woodlands, Tex., and their husbands, Winslow Stevens and Norman Phillips; and five grandchildren.
Visitation: Saturday, Dec. 6, 1 to 2 p.m., Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, 650 East Main Street, Bartow.
Funeral: Saturday, Dec. 6, 2 p.m., Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, with Louis W. Hunter and Rev. James B. Hatch officiating.
Memorial contributions: may be made to Columbia University Taub Institute for Alzheimer's Research, Ms. Carol Tycko, 630 W. 168th Street, P&S; Box 16, New York, NY 10032.
Dan Daniels
Colorful, Controversial Former Polk Sheriff, Dies at 76
Hiram E. "Dan" Daniels, one of the most colorful and controversial men ever to serve as Polk County's sheriff, died on Friday, July 18, 2003, at the age of 76 after a long illness.
Daniels, a retired Army military police colonel with service in Vietnam, was a political unknown when he ran for office in 1984, defeating the incumbent sheriff, Louie T. Mims, and two other veteran law enforcement officers.
He became a lightning rod for criticism, sending lengthy letters to the press, building a large force of volunteers, and engaging in unpredictable hiring and promotion practices.
On Jan. 20, 1987, twenty-four-and-a-half months into his four-year term, Daniels resigned after a scathing report from the grand jury recommended that the Governor remove him from office.
The grand jury conducted a 10-week investigation into Daniels' performance as sheriff, and issued a 17-page report criticizing his management practices.
"I'm glad that the battle is over," Daniels wrote in his letter of resignation. "My resignation should end it, and it is in the best interests of the citizens and public, as well as the department.
"The State Attorney and Grand Jurors have done their duty as they saw it, and I thank them for their hard work and considerations. I don't agree with many of their findings and conclusions, but it is now history."
In his letter, he praised the professionalism of the department's employees.
"In spite of the circumstances, I leave the office with a degree of humble pride," he wrote.
In later years, he would say that the resignation was one of the two biggest mistakes of his life.
Gov. Bob Martinez appointed Lakeland Police Chief Lawrence Crow to fill the vacancy. Both Daniels and Mims later made unsuccessful efforts to unseat Crow.
Daniels' conciliatory tone changed, and he became sharply critical of Crow, State Atty. Jerry Hill, and Chief Circuit Judge William A. Norris, Jr.
He published a newsletter, The Eagle, which evolved from a folksy neighborhood publication praising his favorite eating place in Eagle Lake into a biting criticism of those he viewed as his enemies, and of the liberal wing of politics.
Many of his missives were critical of blacks, and he became a regional officer in the National Assn. of White People.
But the same publications were laced with articles about his love for his wife and his little dog, and his respect for members of the armed forces.
After retiring from the military and before running for sheriff, Daniels was appointed superintendent of the state prison work release center in Bartow, and became a leader in the Crime Watch program.
Crisp-Coon Funeral Home in Winter Haven said that funeral arrangements will be announced on Wednesday.
Eathel Aycock
Eathel Aycock, 88, of Homeland, died Thursday, July 31, 2003, at Tandem Health Care in Winter Haven.
Born Feb. 17, 1915, in Coffee County, Ala., Mrs. Aycock was a longtime Homeland resident. She attended First Baptist Church of Homeland.
Survivors include: her husband, Alcus Aycock; one son, Wayne Bridges and wife, Judith, of Houston, Texas; one step-daughter, Glenda, and husband, Dave, of Winter Haven; one brother, Talmidge Brooks and wife, Winnie, of Enterprise, Ala.; two sisters, Clioia Glass of Kinston, Ala., and Neatha Riser of Antica, Cal.; four grandsons, Robert Bridges and wife, Cathi, of Baytown, Texas, James Bridges of Humble, Texas, Steve Bridges and wife, Laura, of Spring, Texas, and Mike Adkins and wife, Christi, of Homeland; one granddaughter, Wendi Ross of Winter Haven; one great-grandson, Joshua Adkins; and three great-granddaughters, Kristin, Holly, and Tessa Ross.
Services were still pending at presstime.
Arrangements: Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow.
Arba V. Huckeba
Longtime Bartow Resident, Dies at 103
Arba V. Huckeba, 103, of Lakeland, died Friday, May 30, 2003, at the Estates at Carpenters Manor in Lakeland.
Born May 4, 1900, in Ashland, Ala., Ms. Huckeba was a longtime Bartow resident. She moved to Lakeland 15 years ago.
A graduate of the University of Alabama, Ms. Huckeba was employed as a history teacher at the Summerlin Institute in Bartow for many years and was the owner of the Little Folks Clothing Shop. She was Methodist. She enjoyed playing bridge, traveling, and needlework.
Survivors include: a godson, Dr. Lanier Pearce of Jacksonville, and a friend, Marynette Gray of Bartow.
Funeral: Sunday, June 8, 3 p.m., at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow, with Rev. John Rooks officiating.
Interment: Wildwood Cemetery in Bartow.
