Eugene Ball
Eugene Ball, 76, of Bowling Green, died Sunday, Dec. 7, 2003, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.
A native of Millan, Ga., he was born on Jan. 27, 1927. He was Navy veteran and was a citrus caretaker.
Survivors include nine daughters, Betty Brown of Lakeland, Delores Ball Martin of Avon Park, and Mary Ball Burgess, Alta Ball Cox, Frances Ball Wilks, Virginia Ball Berrien, Linda F. Ball, Carolyn J. Ball and Sharon L. Ball, all of Tampa; a goddaughter, Della Ryals of Bowling Green; 10 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Friday, Dec. 12, 3 to 8 p.m., at Gause Funeral Home.
Funeral: Saturday, Dec. 13, 11 a.m., Macedonia Primitive Baptist Church, Bowling Green. Interment will follow in Bowling Green Memorial Garden.
Idella Peterson Cherry
Idella Peterson Cherry, 80, of Lake Wales, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.
Born March 25, 1923, in Jasper, Mrs. Cherry moved to Polk County in the early 1940's.
She was a gourmet cook for Highland Park Clubhouse. She attended Allen Temple A.M.E. Church in Lake Wales, where she was a deaconess and a member of Choir No. 1.
Mrs. Cherry was preceded in death by her husband, Horace Cherry, Sr. Survivors include: two daughters, Shirley Andrews of Lake Wales and Joyce Ramsey of Oldsmar; six sons, Horace Cherry, Jr., and William Cherry, both of Lake Wales, Samuel Cherry, Larry Cherry, and Lawrence Cherry, all of Rochester, N.Y., and Norman Cherry of Atlanta; one brother, George Peterson of Lake Wales; two sisters, Annie Lou Gadson of Fort Meade and Josephine Thomas of Lake Wales; 19 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Friday, Dec. 26, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at Allen Temple A.M.E. Church.
The funeral: Saturday, Dec. 27, at 1 p.m., at the church.
Interment: Lake Wales Cemetery.
Arrangements: Epps Mortuary, Lake Wales.
James Milton Clark
James Milton Clark, 59, of Cobbtown, Ga., formerly of Bartow, died of respiratory failure Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2003, at Candler Memorial Hospital in Metter, Ga.
Born April 5, 1944, in Bartow, Mr. Clark moved to Cobbtown three years ago.
He was a plumber with Clark Plumbing in Bartow. He was an avid hunter and fisherman.
Mr. Clark is survived by: two daughters, Susan Blenk of Bartow and Cathy Ferris of Tallahassee; one son, Jim Clark of Bartow; his mother, Evelyn Clark, and father, Richard Clark, both of Bartow; one brother, Fred Clark of Bartow; and six grandchildren.
The funeral: Friday, Dec. 19, at 11 a.m., at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow, with Rev. Paul E. Puckett officiating.
Memorial contributions: Gulf Coast Lung Association, 6160 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, 33707.
Deniece A. Foster
Deniece A. Foster, 79, of Fort Meade, died Tuesday, June 1, 2004, at her residence.
Born Jan. 4, 1925, in Butler, Ala., Mrs. Foster moved to Fort Meade 53 years ago.
She worked as a nurses aide at The Rohr Home in Bartow for 30 years, and was an active member of Oak Park Baptist Church in Fort Meade.
Mrs. Foster was preceded in death by two husbands, Leroy Jacobs and Milton Foster. Survivors include: two daughters, Dimple Ham of Geneva and Regina King of Greeneville, S.C.; two sons, Roy Jacobs of Bowling Green and John J. Jacobs of Bartow; one sister, Essie Hancock of Fort Meade; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Friday, June 4, from 6 to 8 p.m., at McLean Funeral Home in Fort Meade.
The funeral: Saturday, June 5, at 11 a.m., at Oak Park Baptist Church, 615 Olandt Avenue North, with Rev. Roy Hancock officiating.
Interment: Homeland Cemetery.
Faye Tomlinson
Faye Tomlinson, 74, of Bartow, died Wednesday, June 2, 2004, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.
Born Nov. 17, 1929, in Nichols, Ga., Ms. Tomlinson was a longtime resident of Bartow.
She was a scale house operator for Orangeco. in Bartow, and was a Polk County Sheriff's Office school crossing guard.
Survivors include: one daughter, Janice Cothern of Bartow; one son, Ronnie Cothern (and Carol) of Lakeland; two sisters, Betty H. Strickland (and Jerry) of Independence, Va., and Jessie Pierce of Waycross, Ga.; and two grandsons, Brett Cothern of Lakeland and Christopher Martin of Bartow.
Visitation: Friday, June 4, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow.
The funeral: Saturday, June 5, at 10 a.m., at the funeral home.
Interment: Forrest Hill Cemetery in Haines City.
Paul W. Speight
Insurance Agency Founder, Dies at 94
Paul W. Speight, 94, died of natural causes April 18, 2009.
Born Nov. 29, 1914, in Tiger Bay, to the late Charles and Nora Speight, Mr. Speight was a lifelong resident of the Fort Meade and Bartow area.
In 1965, he founded Paul Speight Insurance in Bartow, where he served his community and clients for many years.
He was a veteran of World War II.
He was well known for his love of family and friends, and was an avid sportsman who loved golf, hunting, and especially fishing, a family member said.
Mr. Speight is survived by his wife of 68 years, LaVerne Speight; three daughters, Pam (Mickey) Westberry of Bartow, Lynda Speight of Atlanta, and Paula (Tom) Stratton of Melbourne; five grandchildren, Paul (Myra) Westberry of Simpsonville, S.C., Dana Wile of Bartow, Anne (Harry) Mathews of Jacksonville, Bill (Corynn) Stratton currently living in India, and Ted (Lindsay) Stratton of Chicago; and four great-grandchildren, Rachel Westberry, Michael Westberry, Jessica Wile, and Andy Mathews.
Visitation: Tuesday, April 21, 1 to 2 p.m., Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow.
Funeral: Tuesday, April 21, 2 p.m., Whidden-McLean Funeral Home Chapel.
Thomas S. Crowell
Thomas S. Crowell, 64, of Lake Wales, died of cancer April 19, 2009, at his home.
Born Feb. 7, 1945, in Davenport, to the late James Levi and Bertha Mae (Daniels) Crowell, Mr. Crowell moved to Lake Wales 44 years ago from Haines City. He was a retired electrician for Progress Energy and served in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Mr. Crowell was active in the Polk County Youth Fair, serving on the board of directors and other various committees. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing, a family member said.
Mr. Crowell is survived by his wife of 44 years, Patricia Crowell; a daughter, Pam Dicks of Lake Wales; three sons, Kevin Crowell of St. Petersburg, Chris Crowell of Frostproof, and Matthew Crowell of Lake Wales; a sister, Joyce Wilson of Auburndale; a brother, Sam Crowell of Davenport; six grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Wednesday, April 22, 6 to 8 p.m., Marion Nelson Funeral Home, Lake Wales.
Graveside service: Thursday, April 23, 11 a.m., Lake Wales Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Tommy Crowell Youth Fair Foundation, c/o Polk County Youth Fair, Post Office Box 9005, Drawer HS03, Bartow, FL 33831-9005.
