Huge Marriages Search Engine!
Martha Bell, 61, Detention Supervisor
LAKELAND -- To the countless children whose lives she touched, Mrs. Martha Bell was "Big Mama."
"All the classes from Lake Gibson High remember her -white and black, " said her daughter, Melanie Vanguilder of Lakeland. "We would have 20 girls here, and they all wrapped around her in the living room.
For more than 10 years, Mrs. Bell worked as a supervisor at the juvenile detention center in Bartow. She died of complications from diabetes Tuesday (June 7, 2005) at Tandem Healthcare of Lakeland. She was 61.
A lifelong Polk County resident, Mrs. Bell was born in Mulberry and came to Lakeland in 1987.
Mrs. Bell surrounded herself with children, working with Sunday school classes at Mulberry's Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church and sticking close to her grandchildren from the time they entered Padgett Elementary to their graduations from Lake Gibson High School.
At Lake Gibson, she traded dinners for wins with the football and basketball teams. Invariably, she cooked when they lost, too.
"Our football team wasn't near as good as it is now, and when they would lose, she broke down every time and she would make a `cheeringup dinner' -- a big southern meal, " said Mrs. Bell's granddaughter, Shamia Jones of Lakeland.
"She loved to entertain. Our home was always open to everyone from every walk of life. Big Mama had to be making things happen."
While working with the state, Mrs. Bell served as a mentor, using "her sternness and grandmotherly love" to help her young charges turn their lives around, her daughter said.
She was a former member of the Elks and belonged to Word Alive Ministries and the Church Without Walls.
Mrs. Bell was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Bell. In addition to her daughter, she is survived by her stepsons, Leo Bell Jr. and Clifford Bell, both of Lakeland; stepdaughter, Janice Bell Sanders, Lakeland; sisters, Mildred Lawrence, Mulberry, Clara McGill, Bartow, Sarah Ford, Lakeland; brothers, Leroy Dempsey, Orlando, Leo Dempsey, Lakeland; four grandchildren; three great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Coney Funeral Parlor. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Word Alive Ministries.
WILLIE HENDERSON, 83
Polk County School Board
HAINES CITY -- Mrs. Willie Mae "Granny" Henderson of Haines City died of heart disease Saturday (March 19, 2005) at Heart of Florida Medical Center. She was 83.
Born in Ramer, Ala., on June 24, 1921, she came to Haines City from there 64 years ago. She was a retired cafeteria worker and worked for the Polk County School Board for 27 years. She was formerly employed with the Haines City Truck Stop as a cook. She was a member and usher at New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church.
Mrs. Henderson was preceded in death by her husband, James Henderson Sr. She is survived by her sons, James "Hamp" Henderson Jr., Dundee, Rogers Henderson, Haines City, Gerald Henderson, Jacksonville; daughters, Joyce, Gaylon, and Jackie Henderson, all of Haines City; sisters, Addie Mae Patterson, Birmingham, Ala., Beatrice Lee, Flint, Mich., Sarah Grigsby, Dayton, Ohio, Doris Arrington-Caffey, Memphis, Tenn.; 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Holmes Funeral Home, 601 Claude Holmes Sr. Ave., Haines City. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Parkview Christian Center, 3520 Baker Ave., Haines City. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery.
Agnes Johnson, 77, Vanguard School
LAKE WALES -- As a housemother at the Vanguard School, Mrs. Agnes Clyde Johnson assumed the role of a "mom away from home" to the 40 to 50 boys who stayed in the dorm each school year.
"She had to make sure their rooms were clean, (that) they got their meds, went to study hall, made curfew on time, their laundry was done, (and take) calls from their parents, " said her granddaughter, Sharon Douberley of Bartow. "On top of that, she had three grandsons and three great grandsons."
The retired housemother died of cancer Friday (July 15, 2005) at home. She was 77.
Born in Connersville on Oct. 25, 1927, Mrs. Johnson moved to Lake Wales from Alturas in 1940.
Prior to joining the staff at the Vangaurd School, Mrs. Johnson worked at several places, including as a waitress at the Coppertop restaurant from 1961 to 1974. She also worked in the gift shop at Bok Tower for a few years and The Apothecary Shop in Lake Wales.
Her career with the Vangaurd School spanned 21 years. In May, she received the Vanguard Founder's Award.
"She could get them (the boys in the dorm) to do things that other people couldn't, " Douberley said.
"When they heard "Miss J" speak, they knew they better do it. But she did anything in the world they wanted her to do."
In addition to spending time with her family, Mrs. Johnson enjoyed traveling and shopping, her granddaughter said.
She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary for more than 40 years. She was a Methodist.
Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her husband of 16 years, June Johnson, in 1974. She is survived by her daughter, Naomi Jean Turner, Bartow; son, Johnny Johnson, Lake Wales; brother, Mack Black, Lake Wales; four grandchildren; three great grandsons.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Marion Nelson Funeral Home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Lake Wales Cemetery.
MARY WEIGHT, 84
Hughes Supply
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Mary E. Weight of Lakeland died of congestive heart failure Aug. 19, 2005, at Carpenters Home Manor. She was 84.
Born in Akron, Ohio, on Dec. 9, 1920, Mrs. Weight came to Lakeland from there in 1958. She was a retired manager for the plumbing department at Hughes Supply. She worked at the company for about 15 years. She graduated from the University of Akron and was a lifemember of Delta Gamma Sorority. She was a member of Lake Gibson United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Weight was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Weight. She is survived by her sister, Barbara Schneider, Chapin, S.C.
Memorial services will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Carpenters Home Estates. The family will receive friends following the service. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Lakeland Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to Carpenters Home Estates, 1001 Carpenters Way, Lakeland, 33809, or a charity of your choice.
Heath Funeral Chapel.
RAYMOND REIDENBACH, 74
LAKE WALES -- Mr. Raymond F. Reidenbach of Lake Wales died of pneumonia Aug. 11, 2005. He was 74.
He was an Air Force veteran.
Mr. Reidenbach is survived by his wife, Doris; daughters, Ann Johnson, Karen Barnett; son, Russell; four grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Trinity Congregational Church, 1011 State Road 540 S.W., Winter Haven.
Ripepi Funeral Home, Parma, Ohio.
JEFFREY ROGERSON, 49
Carpenter
SPRING HILL -- Mr. Jeffrey J. Rogerson of Spring Hill, formerly of Davenport, died of heart failure Monday (Aug. 22, 2005) in Brooksville. He was 49.
Born in Patchouge, N.Y., on Aug. 3, 1956, Mr. Rogerson lived in Davenport before moving to Spring Hill in 1994. He was a carpenter in the home construction industry.
Mr. Rogerson is survived by his daughters, Rachel Galieo, Patchogue, Kristina Wood, San Francisco, Jennifer Rogerson and Katelyn Rogerson, both of Brooksville, Michelle Rogerson, Spring Hill; mother, Clare Rogerson, Patchogue; brothers, Reginal A. Rogerson, Mount Dora, Robin Rogerson, Winter Haven, David Rogerson, Patchogue, George Rogerson, Davenport; sisters, Vera Vackhaus, Patchogue, Lila Williams, Holbrook, N.Y.; one grandchild.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 this evening at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, 1001 Grace Ave., Haines City. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home chapel.
