FLORENCE CARTER, 93
Cook's Helper
MULBERRY -- Mrs. Florence Emma Carter of Mulberry died of heart failure Monday (June 4, 2001) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was 93. Born in Pomona Park on Dec. 4, 1907, she later came to Mulberry. She was a cook's helper in a bakery. She was a member of the Heroines of Jericho and the Daughter of Isis Harram Court No. 96. She was a member of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Mulberry. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Lee Jones, Mulberry; three grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday at Gause Funeral Home, 625 S. Holland Parkway, Bartow, and from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Mulberry. Services will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Mulberry.

GEORGE CLARK, 73
Electrician
WAUCHULA -- Mr. George Clark Jr. of Wauchula died of cardiopulmonary disease Friday (June 1, 2001) at home. He was 73. Born in Fort Myers on March 20, 1928, he was a lifelong resident of the area. He was a self-employed electrician. He was a member of New Mount Zion AME Church in Wauchula where he was a member of the Choir No. 1, a trustee and stewart. He is survived by his wife, Alberta Clark; daughters, Diane Ash, Tampa, Joyce Clark, Brandon; son, George Clark III, Tampa; sister, Rosa Jean Pinkston, Wauchula; six grandchildren. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at New Mount Zion AME Church, Wauchula. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the church.

M.C. COLLINS, 63
Flood Citrus
FROSTPROOF -- The Rev. M.C. Collins of Frostproof died of heart failure Tuesday (June 5, 2001) at Florida Hospital, Sebring. He was 63. Born in Cobbtown, Ga., on Oct. 5, 1937, he came to Frostproof from Miami in 1971. He was a retired heavy equipment operator for Flood Citrus. He was a former minister. He was a member of Christian Fellowhip Assembly of Frostproof. He is survived by his wife, Georgiana Collins; daughters, Donna Nutt, Faye Hobbs, both of Frostproof; son, Wryenn Collins, Frostproof; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Marion Nelson Funeral Home of Frostproof. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home chapel.

TINA HALL, 23
Homemaker
AUBURNDALE -- Mrs. Tina Marie Shelton Hall of Auburndale died in an auto accident Friday (June 1, 2001). She was 23. Born in Bartow on Aug. 6, 1977, she came to Auburndale from Bayminette, Ala., in 1999. She was a homemaker. She attended First Baptist Church at the Mall. She is survived by her husband, Robert Hall; daughters, Kayle Hall, McKencie Hall, both of Lakeland; mother, Cindee Cameron, Bayminette, Ala.; sisters, Tammy Alderman, Samantha Shelton, both of Lakeland; great-grandmother, Iva Nehring, Lakeland. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at Lanier Funeral Home, 717 W. Griffin Road, Lakeland. Services will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home chapel.

CORRIEE HARP, 92
Homemaker
LAKE WALES -- Mrs. Corriee E. Harp of Lake Wales died of heart failure Wednesday (June 6, 2001) at Lake Wales Medical Centers. She was 92. Born in Brooker on April 23, 1909, she came to Lake Wales from Tampa 12 years ago. She was a homemaker. She was Catholic. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Albert Omelia Sr. and William Harp. She is survived by her son, Albert Omelia Jr., Lake Wales; one brother; two sisters; four grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Marion Nelson Funeral Home of Lake Wales.

ALICE HAYMAN, 78
CLAXTON, Ga. -- Mrs. Alice Geneva "Neva" Hayman of Claxton, Ga., formerly of Winter Haven, died Monday (June 4, 2001) at Pulaski Nursing Home. She was 78. Services will be at 11 this morning at J. Mellie NeSmith Funeral Home Chapel, Claxton, Ga. Memorials may be made to Anderson Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery Fund or Rogers Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.

NELLIE JONES, 80
Lincoln Elementary
LAKELAND -- Visitation for Mrs. Nellie Chapper Jones of Lakeland, who died Sunday (June 3, 2001), will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Coney Brothers Funeral Home, 1404 Martin Luthern King Jr. Ave. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at New Mount Zion Bap-tist Church, 1321 N. Webster Ave.

LEVI LEWIS, 2
CLERMONT -- Master Levi Parker Lewis, the son of John Lewis of Lake Wales and Jennifer Turner of Clermont, and stepson of Micah Turner of Clermont, died in an auto accident in Clermont on Sunday (June 3, 2001). He was 2. Born in Lake Wales on Aug. 11, 1998, he was a member of First Assembly of God. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his brother, Austin Lewis, Clermont; maternal grandmother, Martha Bosley, Mulberry; maternal grandfather, Norman Bosley, Frostproof; paternal grandparents, Joan and John Lewis Jr., Lake Wales; paternal great-grandparents, Jack and Shirley McGhee, Babson Park; paternal great-grandmother, Myrtle Lewis, Bartow. Memorial services will be at 7 this evening at Marion Nelson Funeral Home of Lake Wales. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at A.M. Seigler Funeral Home, 1300 E. Canal St., Mulberry.

ALBERT MORRIS, 82
Army
BARTOW -- Mr. Albert Morris of Bartow died of heart failure Monday (June 4, 2001) at Winter Haven Hospital. He was 82. He was born in Bartow on Feb. 25, 1919. He was an Army veteran. He is survived by several cousins. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Gause Funeral Home, 625 S. Holland Parkway, Bartow. Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home chapel.

ROBERT MRUGALA, 75
WINTER HAVEN -- Mr. Robert H. "Bob" Mrugala of Winter Haven died Tuesday (June 5, 2001) in Lake Wales. He was 75. Memorials may be made to the Wild Life Federation or any nature organization. Marion Nelson Funeral Home of Lake Wales.

LULA MULLINS, 99
Homemaker
ORMOND BEACH -- Mrs. Lula Mae Mullins of Ormond Beach, formerly of Lakeland, died of dysphagia Tuesday (June 5, 2001) at Avante at Ormond Beach. She was 99. Born in Adel, Ga., on Feb. 4, 1902, she lived in Lakeland before moving to Ormond Beach 11 years ago. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Worldwide Church of God, Lakeland. She is survived by her daughter, Lanell Causey, Winter Haven; sister, Kate Gordon, Daytona; four grandchildren; several great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Friday at Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home, Winter Haven. Graveside services will follow at 2 p.m. at Oaklawn Cemetery, Winter Haven.

MELLA NEUBERT, 81
Secretary
WINTER HAVEN -- Mrs. Mella Neubert of Winter Haven died of heart failure Tuesday (June 5, 2001) at Life Care Center in Winter Haven. She was 81. Born in Montclair, N.J., on April 26, 1920, she came to Winter Haven from Clifton, N.J., in 1981. She was a retired secretary. She was a member of the Magnolia Garden Club. She was a member of the Theater Guild of Winter Haven. She was a Catholic. She is survived by her husband, Hans Neubert; sister, Ora J. Wanciak, Winter Haven. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home, Winter Haven.

GOLDA NORTHRUP, 96
Property Appraiser
FORT MYERS -- Mrs. Golda G. Northrup of Fort Myers, formerly of Bartow, died of heart disease Monday (June 4, 2001) at Heartland Health Care. She was 96. Born in Tioga County, Pa., on Aug. 18, 1904, she lived in Bartow before moving to Fort Myers eight years ago. She was an office clerk for the Polk County Property Appraiser for 20 years. She was a former member of the Bartow Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. She attended Longwood College, Virginia. She was a member of McLeod Memorial Presbyterian Church, Bartow. She is survived by her daughters, Carolyn Melton, Fort Myers, Cynthia Leonard, Pfafftown, N.C.; sons, Ward W. Northrup, Ocean Ridge, Robert M. Northrup, Harrah, Okla.; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 14, at McLeod Memorial Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to McLeod Memorial Presbyterian Church, 695 W. Stuart St., Bartow.

MIYOSHI SMITH, 42
Legal Counsel
MIAMI -- Ms. Miyoshi D. Smith of Miami, formerly of Bartow, died of heart failure May 31, 2001, at Mercy Hospital. She was 42. Born in Bartow on Oct. 26, 1958, she moved to Miami in 1989. She was corporate legal counsel for IDS Tel Com. She was a member of the Florida Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the Black Lawyer's Association and the National Bar Association Women Lawyer's Division. She was a member of the Howard University Law School Alumni, the Johnson C. Smith University Alumni, and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She was a member of Mount Olive Freewill Baptist Church, Bartow, and Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Miami. She is survived by her parents, Minnie and Alvin Smith Sr., Bartow; sister, Lisa Smith Anderson, Orlando; brothers, Alricky T. Smith, Alvin Smith Jr., both of Bartow. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Gause Funeral Home, 625 S. Holland Parkway, Bartow. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Assembly of God, Bartow.

TERI TURNER, 1
CLERMONT -- Master Teri Lynn Turner, the son of Micah and Jennifer Turner of Clermont, who has family in Polk County, died in an auto accident Sunday (June 3, 2001) in Orlando. He was 1 year old. He was born in Orlando on March 23, 2000. He was a member of First Assembly of God. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his brother, Austin Lewis, Clermont; paternal grandparents, Sherry and Terry Turner, Big Pine Key; maternal grandmother, Martha Bosley, Mulberry; maternal grandfather, Norman Bosley, Frostproof. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at A.M. Seigler Funeral Home, 1300 E. Canal St., Mulberry.

VIRGINIA VANCE-WILLIS, 50
TALLAHASSEE -- Mrs. Virginia E. Vance-Willis of Tallahassee, a native of Lakeland, died Wednesday (June 6, 2001) in Tallahassee. She was 50. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Bevis Funeral Home, 2710 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home chapel.

ELIZABETH WATKINS, 82
Cafeteria Worker
ALTURAS -- Mrs. Elizabeth Sowell Watkins of Alturas, who has family in Polk County, died of complications of a cerebral hemorrhage Tuesday (June 5, 2001) at Winter Haven Hospital. She was 82. Born in Brewton, Ala., on Dec. 6, 1918, she moved to Alturas from Alabama 55 years ago. She was a cafeteria worker for Alturas Elementary School for 18 years. She attended Central Avenue Baptist Church in Lake Wales and was a member of Alturas First Baptist Church in Alturas. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Elon D. Sowell and Otha L. Watkins. She is survived by her sons, Elon Sowell, Alturas, Arnold Sowell, Winter Haven; daughters, Anise Whitehead, Lake Wales, Sharon Dixon, Lakeland; sisters, Evelyn Cotton, McDavid, Johnnie Bell Cook, Marie Hooks, both of Brewton; 15 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, 650 E. Main St., Bartow. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home chapel.

NELLIE YUNGHANS, 93
Nurse's Aide
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Nellie Mabel Yunghans of Lakeland died of heart failure Tuesday (June 5, 2001) at Highlands Lake Center. She was 93. Born in Sherman, N.Y., on Feb. 18, 1908, she came to Lakeland from Gowanda, N.Y., in 1972. She was a nurse's aide for New York State Hospital. She was a member of the Highlands Church of the Nazarene. She is survived by her granddaughters, Lynn Pape, Lakeland, Kathy Pape, Canyon City, Colo.; one great-grandchild. Lakeland Funeral Home.

BARBARA ZIMMERMAN, 67
Citrus Hill
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Barbara L. Zimmerman of Lakeland died of liver cancer Monday (June 4, 2001) in Lakeland. She was 67. Born in New York City, she came to Lakeland 46 years ago. She was a machine operator for Citrus Hill, formerly Ben Hill Griffin, for 23 years. She was a member of Kingdom Hall Jehovah's Witness, Lakeland Highlands Congregation. She is survived by her daughters, Angelia L. Zimmerman, Renee O. Veasy, Linda Zimmerman, all of Lakeland, Delton J. Zimmerman, Alpharetta, Ga.; sons, James Zimmerman Jr., Rochester, N.Y., Eric L. Zimmerman, Alpharetta; brothers, Jerome Mustpher, Jacksonville, Bill Mustpher, Kissimmee, Joseph Mustpher, Tifton, Ga., John Brown Everette, Apopka; sisters, Catherine Alexander, Deborah Nealy, both of Lakeland, Gale Wilson, Harrisburg, Pa. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness, 2100 Providence Road, Lakeland. Oldham Funeral Home, Lakeland.

Ila Higginbotham, 77, Teacher
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Ila Ruth Higginbotham's love of children inspired her to teach kindergarten and elementary school students for 15 years. The retired teacher at Southwest Elementary School died of complications from cancer Tuesday (June 5, 2001) at Highlands Lake Center. She was 77. "She wiped a many a nose. She was very stern but very loving, too," said Henry Higginbotham, her husband of 54 years and a schoolteacher, too. "She got me into it." Born in Marie, W. Va., on June 30, 1923, she and Henry Higginbotham were married in September 1946. "She helped me through college after World War II," Henry Higginbotham said. The couple came to Lakeland from Dayton, Ohio, 45 years ago. After her three children began to get a little older, Mrs. Higginbotham began her 23-year career, teaching kindergarten at Cleveland Court. "She was hired by the PTA. That was back when it wasn't part of the public schools -- when they first had kindergarten available," said her daughter, Rebecca "Becky" Ann Rodda of Lakeland. She served as a teacher's aide at Combee Elementary before she returned to school, graduating in 1976, with a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from University of South Florida. Mrs. Higginbotham then taught kindergarten and third grade at Southwest Elementary until her retirement in 1986. "There are a lot of kids who remember my mom," Rodda said. "She loved her grandchildren very much." After her retirement, she and her husband became active in helping organize annual reunions for his fellow Navy veterans of World War II. "She was very active in the newsletter. They kind of kept the whole group together," Rodda said. She became a member of First Presbyterian Church in 1956, and was a member of Circle 8. In addition to her husband and daughter, she is survived by her sons, Hank Higginbotham and Donald Charles Higginbotham, both of Lakeland; brothers, Orba Light, Portsmouth, Va., and Burchell Light, Alderson, W. Va.; sister, Elaine Brown, Bradford, Pa.; seven grandchildren. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Heath Funeral Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, Paxon Morrison Chapel, 175 Lake Hollingsworth, Lakeland. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 175 Lake Hollingsworth, Lakeland, FL 33801.