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FRANCES FREEMAN, 86
Homemaker
MEDULLA -- Mrs. Frances E. Freeman of Medulla died of cancer Tuesday (July 27, 2004) at home. She was 86.
Born in Plant City on Oct. 13, 1917, she came to Medulla from there 50 years ago. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Medulla Baptist Church in Lakeland.
Mrs. Freeman was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Freeman. She is survived by her son, Walton Freeman, Medulla.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Seigler Funeral Home, Highway 60 E., Mulberry. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel.
Katie Drayton, 78, Polk County Schools
FORT MEADE -- During her many years working for the Polk County School Board, Mrs. Katie Bell Drayton made numerous friendships with her students and often ran into former students when she went out in public.
"They all remembered her name. As she got older, she might not be not be able to remember all their names, but they all remembered hers, " her daughter, Gwendolyn Drayton of Fort Meade said.
The retired custodian for Fort Meade High School died of a heart attack Monday (July 26, 2004) at home. She was 78.
Born in Avon Park on May 13, 1926, one of six children, she came to Fort Meade from Adele, Ga., many years ago to live closer to her fraternal twin who preceded her in death earlier this year.
She began her career with the Polk County School Board working part time at Lewis Elementary School in Fort Meade. She later became a fulltime custodian for Fort Meade High School, where she retired after many years.
Mrs. Drayton enjoyed fishing and gardening. "She loved her flowers, especially her roses, " Gwendolyn Drayton said. "She was just an outgoing person, especially in the community and with all of our neighbors. She was always out in the yard doing something, and they could always come over. She was the kind of person that would go to the grocery and make friends, even with complete strangers."
She was a member of Beulah M.B. Church in Fort Meade.
Mrs. Drayton was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Curtis Drayton. In addition to her daughter, she is survived by her sons, Berrie Lomax, Lakeland, Julius Lomax, Fort Meade; 22 grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Williams Funeral Home, Bartow. Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Beulah Baptist Church in Fort Meade.
WILLIE BAYNE, 87
Sears Roebuck Co.
WINTER HAVEN -- Mrs. Willie Mae Bayne of Winter Haven died of heart failure Sunday (Aug. 22, 2004) at Life Care of Winter Haven. She was 87.
Born in Greenville County, S.C., on July 31, 1916, she came to Winter Haven from there 20 years ago. She was in clerical buying for Sears Roebuck Co. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Winter Haven.
Mrs. Bayne was preceded in death by her husband, Russell N. Bayne. She is survived by her daughter, JoAnn Bayne Owens, Winter Haven; sisters, Carrie Stone, Anderson, S.C., Marie Mannley, Mauldin, S.C.; two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at Crisp-Coon Funeral Home, Winter Haven. Services will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Winter Haven, building fund, 198 W. Central Ave., Winter Haven, 33880.
Robert Miller, 83, Postal Carrier
WINTER HAVEN -- For 32 years, Mr. Robert C. "Bob" Miller and his wife occupied the same reserved seats in the fifth row of the east stand, section C, where they faithfully cheered on the Winter Haven High School Blue Devils football team.
"They just got their tickets for this season, " his son, Patrick N. Miller of Winter Haven, said, noting that his father was also a Florida State Seminoles fan.
The elder Mr. Miller, a retired postal carrier for the Winter Haven Post Office, died of heart and lung failure Saturday (Aug. 21, 2004) at Winter Haven Hospital. He was 83.
He was born in Kingston, Ohio, on Nov. 1, 1920.
He enlisted in the Army in 1944 and served in the Headquarters Battery in the 903rd Field Artillery of the 78th Lightning Division in World War II.
During the Battle of the Bulge, Mr. Miller was injured and in mid-March 1945 his wife received a letter informing her he was missing in action. Three months later, he was found in the Army hospital with shrapnel wounds to his leg.
Mr. Miller, who received the Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars and three field ribbons, was honorably discharged in May of 1946.
He came to Winter Haven from Lancaster, Ohio, in 1959.
His career with the Winter Haven Post Office spanned 30 years, during which he served the same delivery route area, from Southeast Plaza to the Lake Link and Lake Wood areas.
"When he retired, they had to divide his route to three different mail carriers, " Patrick Miller said.
While working for the post office, Mr. Miller did interior and exterior painting after he finished his route each day.
"He painted houses until it got dark. He painted for three to four hours and sometimes he would stay after, just to help make ends meet. And for just having a high school education, he did very well for supporting the family, " Patrick Miller said. "In 1992, we started Miller Painting. He would have been 71 or 72. He painted with me until he was 81."
Mr. Miller was a member of Central Church of Christ in Winter Haven.
In addition to his son, Mr. Miller is survived by his wife of 63 years, Irene Miller; son, Robert C. Miller II; and six grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central Church of Christ, P.O. Box 2004, Winter Haven, 33883.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home, Winter Haven. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Central Church of Christ, Winter Haven. Burial will be in Lakeside Memorial Park, Winter Haven.
WILLIAM FARRER, 80
W.R. Farrer and Sons Construction
SEBRING -- Mr. William Russell Farrer of Sebring died of kidney failure Sunday (Aug. 22, 2004) at home. He was 80.
Born in Bartow on March 21, 1924, he came to Sebring from Wauchula 10 years ago. He was a building contractor, and the owner and operator of W.R. Farrer and Sons Construction. He attended the Assembly of God Church.
Mr. Farrer is survived by his wife, Edna Farrer; sons, Danny Lee Farrer, and Dennis Keith, both of Sebring, William Ronald Farrer, Frostproof; daughter, Marie Farrer Newby, Winter Haven; brother, Earl D. Farrer, Winter Haven; sister, Vernie Bradberry, Bartow; 15 grandchildren; 20 greatgrandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home, Winter Haven. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home chapel.
JOY SECRIST, JAYDEN SECRIST, CHANCE SECRIST, RILEY SECRIST, Infants
LAKELAND -- Miss Joy Secrist, Miss Jayden Secrist, Master Chance Secrist, and Master Riley Michael Secrist, the children of Raymond and Lori Secrist of Lakeland, died Saturday (Aug. 21, 2004) in Lakeland. They were infants.
They were born in Lakeland on Aug. 21, 2004.
In addition to their parents, they are survived by their maternal grandparents, Steve and Linda Horn, Lakeland, James Fors, Brandon; maternal great-grandmother, Audrey Tucker, Lakeland; paternal grandmother, Geraldine Barker, Lakeland; maternal great-grandfather, James Fors, Illinois.
Gentry-Morrison Southside Funeral Home.
