Elmer O. Martin
Elmer O. Martin, 88, former Fort Meade resident, died Monday, May 26, 2003, at Brooksville Health Care Center.
Martin was a native of Laurel, Miss. He was a citrus worker and he attended the First Church of God.
Survivors include: one sister-in-law, Hilda Martin Wise of Bartow; three nephews, W.J. Martin and Gary Martin, both of Bartow, and Travis Martin of Port Charlotte; and two nieces, Sandra Caraway of Bartow and Brenda Holton of Wauchula.
Funeral: Thursday, May 29, 4 p.m., at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, with Rev. Donald Holton officiating.
Arrangements: Moody Funeral Home in Fort Meade.
Clarence C. Little
Clarence C. Little, 83, of Fort Meade, died Saturday, June 7, 2003, at the Bartow Center.
Born May 8, 1920, in Byrdstown, Tenn., Little moved to Fort Meade from Lakeland 41 years ago.
He was a teacher employed by the Polk County School Board. He was Baptist. He served in the National Guard in Tennessee, and was a charter member of the Memorial Baptist Church in Livingston, Tenn. He was a U.S. Army World War II veteran.
After retiring as a school teacher, Little worked as a carpenter.
Survivors include: his wife of 60 years, Beryl Little; one son, Ken Little of Bartow; and three grandchildren.
Visitation: Tuesday, June 10, from 6 to 8 p.m., at McLean Funeral Home, Fort Meade.
Funeral: Wednesday, June 11, 10 a.m., at McLean Funeral Home, with Rev. Roy Hancock officiating.
Interment: Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Meade.
Thomas D. Powell, Jr.
Thomas D. Powell, Jr., 88, of Lakeland, died Wednesday, June 4, 2003, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.
Born Aug. 29, 1914, in Mulberry, Powell moved to Lakeland from Zellwood, Fla., in 1985.
He was a retired minister associated with the West Lakeland Church of God, where he did visitation and some preaching, and for the past four years, was the treasurer/accountant for the church.
Rev. Powell went to his first general assembly in October, 1933, at the Old North Cleveland Church of God in Tennessee. He had pastored or held a church position in Clewiston; Port Saint Joe; Turkey Creek; Lake City; Zellwood; Mulberry; Soldonta, Ark.; Fairbanks, Ark.; Terrace B.C., Canada; Fort Walton Beach; and Winter Beach.
He retired his pastoral ministry in 1975, but continued his evangelized ministry until 1995.
During his lifetime, Rev. Powell built churches in Clewiston, and Terrace B.C. Canada, and Sunday School buildings in Lake City, Mulberry, and Port Saint Joe. While in Alaska, he was on the state council and also served temporarily as state youth director in 1969.
At West Lakeland Church of God, he installed a computer system for Pathway Academy and the church offices. He also taught computer in the high school.
Survivors include: his wife, Lula M. Williams Powell; two sons, James R. Powell of Ocoee and Rick D. Powell of Lakeland; one daughter, Barbara Bryant of Macon, Ga.; eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Funeral: Saturday, June 7, 11 a.m., at West Lakeland Church of God. Friends may visit from 10 a.m. until services begin.
Graveside service: Saturday, June 7, 3 p.m., at Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Meade.
Memorial contributions: donations to the West Lakeland Church of God building fund.
Naomi Mae Tuggle
Naomi Mae Tuggle, 83, died Saturday, June 7, 2003, at the Rohr Home in Bartow.
Born Nov. 29, 1919, in Fort Meade, she was a lifelong resident of that community. Mrs. Tuggle was a citrus processing sectionizer, a cafeteria worker at Fort Meade High School for eight years, and a pink lady at Bartow Memorial Hospital for seven years.
A member of First Baptist Church of Fort Meade, she was a member of the church's Willing Workers. Mrs. Tuggle also was a member of the Ladies Fireman Auxiliary for 15 years.
Survivors include her daughter, Zoe Lamb of Fort Meade; three sons, Richard Tuggle of Panama City, Larry Tuggle of Crestview, and Charles Tuggle of Durham, N.C.; 12 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Monday, June 16, 10-11 a.m., First Baptist Church, 307 East Broadway, Fort Meade.
Funeral: Monday, June 16, 11 a.m., First Baptist Church, with Rev. Kenny Slay officiating. Interment to follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Meade.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:
Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Avenue, Auburndale, or
Alzheimers Association, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, 1131 First Street South, Winter Haven, 33880.
Arrangements: McLean Funeral Home, Fort Meade.
Ruth Mary Higgs
Ruth Mary Higgs, 80, of Fort Meade, died Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003, at her home.
Born Sept. 25, 1923, in Plainwell, Mich., Mrs. Higgs moved to Fort Meade 13 years ago.
She was an accountant, and a charter member of the Kalamasoo, Mich., American Society of Women Accountants. She also was an owner and operator of Ace Engraver, Inc., for 20 years.
She was Baptist.
Mrs. Higgs is survived by: her husband of 60 years, Robert C. Higgs; one son, James Robert Higgs of Plainwell, Mich.; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
No services are planned at this time.
Arrangements: McLean Funeral Home, Fort Meade.
Geneva 'Jenny' Geiger
Geneva "Jenny" Geiger, 87, of Lakeland, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003, at Grace Health Care in Lakeland.
Born Nov. 8, 1916, in Lake Butler, Mrs. Geiger moved to Polk County from Ocala 59 years ago.
She was a homemaker. She was Protestant.
Mrs. Geiger was preceded in death by her husband, J. C. Geiger, Jr. She is survived by: one son, James C. Geiger of Lakeland; one brother, C. D. Drawdy of Haines City; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral: Saturday, Dec. 27, at 11 a.m., at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow, with George H. Moore officiating.
Interment: Wildwood Cemetery, Bartow.
