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MARTHA BRANCO, 98
Motel Owner
TAVARES -- Mrs. Martha M. Branco of Tavares, formerly of Lakeland, died of heart failure Saturday (Aug. 14, 2004) at Avanta at Mount Dora. She was 98.
Born in Hardington, Neb., on Nov. 10, 1905, she moved to Tavares from Lakeland 20 years ago. She was a motel owner. She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Lakeland, the Resurrection Catholic Community in Lakeland, and St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Mount Dora.
Mrs. Branco was preceded in death by her husband, Manuel M. Branco. She is survived by her daughter, Jessie Thrasher, Miami.
Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Resurrection Catholic Church in Lakeland.
A.M. Seigler Funeral Home, Mulberry.
VELMA HENDRIX, 84
Homemaker
MULBERRY -- Mrs. Velma Hendrix of Mulberry died of heart failure Sunday (Aug. 22, 2004) at Valencia Hills Health and Rehab. She was 84.
Born in Christina on March 15, 1920, she came to Mulberry from Nichols 50 years ago. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Southside Baptist Church in Mulberry.
Mrs. Hendrix was preceded in death by her husband, Tab Hendrix. She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Ballard, Mulberry; sons, William Edward Hendrix, Mulberry, Denny Sanders, Lakeland; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one great great-grandchild.
Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Seigler Funeral Home, Highway 60 E., Mulberry. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home chapel.
HERBERT DAVIS, 66
Trans-Phos Truck Driver
LAKELAND -- Mr. Herbert Riley Davis of Lakeland died of heart failure Monday (Aug. 16, 2004) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was 66.
Born in Kensington, Ohio, on April 13, 1938, he came to Lakeland from Ohio 18 years ago. The Navy veteran drove a truck for Trans-Phos. He was a Protestant.
Mr. Davis is survived by his wife, Linda Davis; sons, Kenny Davis, South Carolina, Charles Davis, Rick Davis, Larry Davis, all of Ohio, Paul Davis, Mulberry, Mitch Cope, Okeechobee, Mark Cope, Texas, Michael Cope, Lakeland; daughters, Dawn Trevino, Tina Davis, Pennie Lowe, Cindy Bernard, Amy Allen, all of Lakeland; mother, Cora Davis, Lakeland; brothers, John Davis, Charles Davis, both of Lakeland; sisters, Gloria Waggoner, Lakeland, June Anderson, Ohio; 31 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Bethel Baptist Church in Lakeland.
A.M. Seigler Funeral Home, Mulberry.
Albert Hodge, 77, CSX Railroad
LAKELAND -- As a charter member of Scott Lake Baptist Church, Mr. Albert Nelton Hodge served the church in several capacities over the years.
"He helped with the building of the first building that we had, and then it burned down, " said Frances Hodge, his wife of 49 years.
"He helped with anything that needed to be done. If he was able to do it, he would do it. He put in all of his spare of time at the church."
The retired car inspector for CSX Railroad and bagger for Publix Super Markets died of cancer Thursday (Aug. 19, 2004) at home. He was 77.
Born in Hartford, Ala., on Oct. 1, 1926, he served in the Navy on an aircraft carrier during World War II. Following his discharge, Mr. Hodge came to Florida. He lived briefly in Durant, where he met his future bride, and the couple eloped.
"We came in from work one Friday night and decided to get married, " his wife said.
"We got married in Kingsland, Ga., at 5 a.m. That was where they did 24-hour deals up there. His niece and her husband went with us."
The couple came to Mulberry, and later to Lakeland, where they lived in the same house for 45 years.
Mr. Hodge retired from the railroad in 1988 after 371/2 years. For the past 16 years, he worked as a bagger for Publix. Reluctantly, he left a few months ago after being diagnosed with cancer.
He was a member of Lakeland Lodge No. 91 F&AM.;
In addition to his wife, Mr. Hodge is survived by his son, James Nelton Hodge, Tampa; daughters, Patricia Blake, Winter Park, Joyce Fricker, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; brother, James William Hodge, St. George, Ga.; several grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 7:30 this evening at Scott Lake Baptist Church. Services will follow at 7:30 p.m. at the church.
Graveside services with military honors will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice.
TAMMY VANOVER, 33
Homemaker
MULBERRY -- Ms. Tammy Sue Vanover of Mulberry died of heart failure Saturday (Aug. 14, 2004) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was 33.
Born in Springfield, Ohio, on Dec. 23, 1970, she came to Mulberry from there 17 years ago. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Christina Park Baptist Church.
Ms. Vanover is survived by her sons, Michael C. Luna, Jeffery Boutwell Jr., both of Mulberry; mother, Jessie L. Vanover, Mulberry; brothers, Ronald Vanover, Russell Vanover, both of Mulberry; sisters, Mary Brockman, Priscilla Floyd, both of Mulberry.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, 650 E. Main St., Bartow. Graveside services will follow at 2 p.m. at Wildwood Cemetery, Bartow.
Jerry Tucker, 41, Coca-Cola Foods
WINTER HAVEN -- Mr. Jerry L. Tucker was known for his sense of humor and his longtime support of the Florida Gators.
"He loved to have fun and kid people -- pull jokes. He loved people. He was a people person, " his mother, LaSondra Tucker of Bartow said. "He was a big Gator fan and liked to have big crowds in to watch the games."
The machine operator for Coca-Cola died of complications following a stroke Thursday (Aug. 5, 2004) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was 41.
The lifelong resident of Polk County was born in Bartow on July 4, 1963. He attended Bartow Elementary and Bartow High School.
Mr. Tucker worked for Coca Cola Foods as a machine operator for at least eight years.
He was an avid freshwater fisherman.
"They liked to go out to the lakes in Winter Haven and fish with his stepson, " LaSondra Tucker said.
He was of the Church of God faith.
Mr. Tucker is survived by his parents, LaSondra and Leon Tucker, Bartow; brother, Danny Lee Tucker, Bartow; stepson, Shay Kubieck, Winter Haven; companion, Karol Kubieck, Winter Haven.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, 650 E. Main St., Bartow. Graveside services will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Homeland Cemetery, Homeland.
VELMA COSTON, 49
Cake Decorator
WILLOW OAK -- Mrs. Velma C. Coston of Willow Oak died of cancer Wednesday (July 28, 2004) at home. She was 49.
Born in Plant City on Dec. 10, 1954, she came to Willow Oak from Medulla 10 years ago. She was a cake decorator for Bruster's Ice Cream Shop. She was a member of Willow Oak Baptist Church in Mulberry.
Mrs. Coston is survived by her husband, Alan Coston; daughters, April Coston, Tracy Coston, both of Willow Oak, Heidi Neff, Lakeland; son, Clint Coston, Willow Oak; sisters, Catherine Patterson, Georgine Reed, both of Lakeland, Helen Elderidge, Missouri; brothers, Carl Cloud, North Carolina, Bill Cloud, Lakeland.
Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Oak Hill Cemetery, Highway 98 S., Lakeland.
A.M. Seigler Funeral Home, Mulberry.
