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Sara Carson, 77, Business Leader
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Sara Anderson Carson, a senior vice president of People's Bank in Lakeland and community leader, died of scleroderma Tuesday (Aug. 16, 2005) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was 77.
Born Sept. 11, 1927 in Greenwood, S.C., she came here from Greenwood 50 years ago.
Mrs. Carson served as a member and board director for numerous business and civic groups in Lakeland.
She was an officer and director for the Citrus Regional Blood Bank and the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce, a board member for Paint Your Heart Out, and was on the advisory boards of the University of South Florida and Explorations V Children's Museum.
She served on the city of Lakeland Advertising and Publicity Board and the Polk County Builders Associates Committee, and on commercial and real estate committees for the Florida Bankers Association. She gave her time to the Host Task Force, an ambassadorial group with the chamber that welcomed new businesses to the area.
She was recipient of the "She Knows Where She's Going Award" from Girls Inc. of Lakeland.
"As a younger business women, when I first met Sara, I always wanted to emulate her, " said her friend, B.J. Miller, of Lakeland. "She's as wonderful of a person as she is a leader."
Robert Owen Carson Jr. of Lakeland, described his mother as a "very positive woman who believed in giving your best at any job at hand.
"She was an amazing mother who taught through example, " he said. "She lived love."
Mrs. Carson was a member of Lakeside Baptist Church and attended the Friendship Sunday School Class.
"She was unselfish, caring, and honest. It's not often, in this day and age, that you can find any person involved in business who upholds Christian values the way she did, " said her daughter, Kay Prothro of Manning, S.C.
"She taught us life's lessons by living an exemplary life. Mom endured a very difficult disease with grace and dignity while maintaining a sense of humor, and she remains an inspiration to all who loved her, " Prothro said.
In addition to her son and daughter, Mrs. Carson is survived by her sister, Marie Anderson Timmerman, Greenwood, S.C.; and two grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Friendship Sunday School Class, Lakeside Baptist Church, 1736 New Jersey Road, Lakeland, or the Scleroderma Foundation, 12 Kent Way, Suite 101, Byfield, Mass. 01922.
Visitation is this evening from 5 to 7 at Heath Funeral Home. Funeral services will be on Friday at 11 a.m. at Lakeside Baptist Church.
ESTELLE SOIKA, 93
Nurse
WINTER HAVEN -- Mrs. Estelle R. Soika of Winter Haven died of cardiorespiratory arrest Sunday (Aug. 14, 2005) in Winter Haven. She was 93.
She was born Feb. 12, 1912, in Middleburg, N.Y., and moved to Haines City from Pennsylvania 30 years ago. She was a private nurse. She was a Baptist.
Mrs. Soika is survived by her daughters, Audrey Jamro, Hadley N.Y., and Beverely Iszzetta, N.J., three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held this morning at 10 at Forest Hill Cemetery, Haines City.
Oak Ridge Funeral Care.
VERNON SCARBOROUGH, 79
U.S. Navy
LAKELAND -- Mr. Vernon H. Scarborough of Lakeland died of heart failure Monday (Aug. 15, 2005) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was 79.
He was born on April 11, 1926. He was a disabled veteran. He served in the Navy during World War II. He was a Protestant.
Mr. Scarborough is survived by his sisters, Nelma Brackin, Lakeland, and Marrietta Parsons, Jacksonville.
Private services will be held.
Heath Funeral Chapel.
ROY NELSON, 36
Police Officer
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Mr. Roy L. Nelson Jr. of New Smyrna Beach, formerly of Lakeland, died Saturday (Aug. 13, 2005) in New Smyrna Beach of injuries suffered in an accident while working as a police officer. He was 36.
He was born May 26, 1969, in Lakeland, and graduated from Lakeland High School. He served with the Polk County Fire Department. He was a seven-year veteran with the New Smyrna Beach Police Department. He was a member of Coronado Community Methodist Church.
Mr. Nelson is survived by his wife, Angie; daughters, Samantha Steinmetz and Sabrina Nelson; brother, Robert, London, England; sister, Patricia Andress, Gainesville; father, Roy Nelson Sr., Lakeland; and mother, Susan Nelson, Lakeland.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Roy Nelson Canine Memorial Fund, c/o Friends Bank 2222 State Road 44, New Smyrna Beach, 32168 or c/o Friends Bank, 1504 S. Ridgewood Ave., Edgewater, 32132.
Visitation will be on Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Coronado Community Methodist Church. A funeral service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the church. Interment will follow in Sea Pines Memorial Gardens, Edgewater.
Sette-Wilder Funeral Home.
GENEVA KELLEY, 88
Restaurant Worker
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Geneva H. Kelley of Lakeland died Monday (Aug. 15, 2005) at her home. She was 88.
She was born June 20, 1917, in Hohenwald, Tenn., and came here from Tennessee 39 years ago. She prepared salads for restaurants. She was a member of Green Pond Baptist Church in Polk City.
Mrs. Kelley was preceded in death by her husband, Stephen Albert Kelley. She is survived by her daughters, Josephine McKissack, Auburndale, Susan Kelley, Lakeland, and Katie Kelley, Lakeland; sons, William Kelley, San Antonio, Robert Kelley, Winter Haven, and Jerry Kelley, Lakeland; 12 grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.
Visitation will be on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kersey Funeral Home in Auburndale. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home chapel.
Kersey Funeral Home.
ALAN FRIEDMAN, 67
Insurance
LAKELAND -- Mr. Alan Kirk Friedman of Lakeland died of cancer Sunday (Aug. 14, 2005) at his home. He was 67.
He was born on Oct. 27, 1937, in San Diego, Calif., and moved to Lakeland in 1999 from Rochester, N.Y. He worked for many years in the commercial insurance industry. He was a member of the Stardust Dance Center in Plant City. He was Jewish.
Mr. Friedman is survived by his wife, Judi Friedman, Lakeland, daughters, Elyse Matson, San Diego, and Kim Foreman, Canandaigua, N.Y.; sons, Michael Friedman and Russell Strasser, both of San Diego; brother, Marc Friedman, San Diego; and five grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 115. S. Missouri Ave., Suite 500, Lakeland, 33805.
A memorial service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Schalamar Creek Golf and Country Club.
Central Florida Casket Store and Funeral Chapel, Lakeland.
