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Berdelle Kendrick, 83, Polk Schools
MULBERRY -- Ms. Berdelle E. Kendrick was a strong woman with a strong faith in God, who single-handedly raised four children.
"She really instilled in all four of her children a love of God. We had to go to church morning, noon and night, " said her daughter, Pastor Linda Hayes of Mulberry. "We had dinner every night at the table, and she would pray. We went to school every morning with a hot breakfast. We didn't know what cereal was."
The retired custodian for Mulberry High School died of heart failure Monday (June 14, 2004) at Bartow Memorial Hospital. She was 83.
The lifelong resident was born in Mulberry on May 17, 1921, and attended Union Academy.
Ms. Kendrick started her career with the Polk County School Board in 1973, working at Mulberry High School for the duration of her career. Ms. Kendrick served as a mentor and adopted mother and grandmother to many children who came to refer to her as "MeMa."
"She kept the kids in line and made sure they were in class on time, " said her son, Pastor Eugene Kendrick of Pierce, who worked with his mother as a teacher at Mulberry High School. "I used to tell the kids that I taught, `She is tiny but she is just like E.F. Hutton. When she speaks, everybody listens."'
She was an active longtime member of Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Mulberry, where she served in many capacities, including steward, choir member, secretary of the ushers' union, president of the usher union, president of the ushers board, and as church school teacher.
"She was the very first missionary president that they had. They honored her in June or July last year, " Pastor Hayes said.
In addition to her daughter and son, Ms. Kendrick is survived by her sons, Wiley Kendrick III, Lakeland, John Pate, Dallas; sister, Hattie Howell, Mulberry; 13 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Mount Zion A.M.E. Church in Mulberry. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the church.
Williams Funeral Home, Bartow.
MICHAEL MAKALA, 16
Student
POLK CITY -- Mr. Michael John "Mikey" Makala II of Polk City died of injuries sustained in an auto accident Tuesday (Aug. 3, 2004) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was 16.
Born in St. Petersburg on Oct. 4, 1987, he came to Polk City from Pinellas Park in 1997. He was a student at Lake Gibson High School. He was a member of Future Farmers of America and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was a member of Green Pond Baptist Church and Bible Baptist Church.
Mr. Makala is survived by his father, Michael Makala, Polk City; stepmother, Priscilla Makala, Polk City; mother, Julie Toerpe, St. Petersburg; stepfather, Dennis Toerpe, St. Petersburg; grandmothers, Nana' Ciccarello and Betty Sunter; grandfathers, Nanu Ferlita, Edward Gagnon and James Sunter; sisters, Amanda Tyler, Tampa, Desire'e Toerpe, Ocala, and Nikki Gonzalez, Polk City; and brothers, Ricky Gonzalez, Tampa, and Justin Toerpe and Ainsley Toerpe, both of Ocala.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Green Pond Baptist Church. Services will follow at 4 p.m. at the church.
Memorials may be made to Green Pond Baptist Church, Family Life building fund, 5965 Green Pond Road, Polk City, FL 33868.
Lanier Funeral Home.
AGNES SAUM, 80
Homemaker
EATON PARK -- Mrs. Agnes Sprung Saum of Eaton Park died of heart failure Sunday (July 25, 2004) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was 80.
Born in Amsterdam, N.Y., on July 11, 1924, she came to Eaton Park from Fort Plain, N.Y., in 1946. She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Saum was preceded in death by her husband, William H. Saum. She is survived by her sons, Randy Saum, Lakeland, David Saum, Eaton Park; daughter, Sharon Hudson, Winder, Ga.; sisters, Marcella Salisberry, Rensselaer, N.Y., Roseann Shwasnick; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Oak Hill Burial Park.
Gentry-Morrison Southside Funeral Home.
DANIEL TISDALE, 55
Equipment Operator
LAKELAND -- Mr. Daniel O. "Danny" Tisdale of Lakeland died of lung failure July 19, 2004, at Winter Haven Hospital. He was 55.
Born in Lakeland on Aug. 20, 1948, he was a lifelong resident. He was an equipment operator and worked for Scotty's in Eaton Park for a number of years. He was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a Methodist.
Mr. Tisdale is survived by his sister, Mary Sue Torres, Mexico.
Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Oak Hill Burial Park.
Dukes Steen Funeral Home.
VICTOR MONTELEONE, 55
Automotive Salesman
WINTER HAVEN -- Mr. Victor Monteleone of Winter Haven died of cancer Sunday (Aug. 1, 2004) in Winter Haven. He was 55.
Born in Camden, N.J., on May 27, 1949, he came to Winter Haven from New Jersey in 2003. He was an automotive salesman. He volunteered for Lakeland Family Ministries. He was a Christian.
Mr. Monteleone is survived by his daughters, Lynette Schneider, Marlene Selfridge, both of Mount Laurel, N.J., Ginana Monteleone, Pennsylvania, Gabrielle Monteleone, New Jersey; sister, Anne Palese, Fort Lauderdale; brother, Sam Monteleone, Fort Lauderdale; four grandchildren.
Services will be held later.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Leland Family Ministries, P.O. Box 126, Eaton Park, 33840.
Steele's Family Funeral Services, Winter Haven.
PHILIP MEINKE, 66
Salesman
LAKELAND -- Mr. Philip Albert Meinke Jr. of Lakeland died of cancer Saturday (Aug. 21, 2004) at Lakeland Hills Center. He was 66.
Born in Cleveland on Sept. 10, 1937, he came to Lakeland from Bartow two years ago. He was a salesman. He was a lieutenant in the Navy and a veteran of the Vietnam War where he served as a carrier pilot. He was a member of the American Legion. He was a member of First Prebyterian Church of Lakeland.
Mr. Meinke is survived by his wife, Ruth Meinke; sons, Cleve Meinke, St. Simons Isle, Ga., Philip Meinke, Lakeland, Robert Meinke, Brunswick, Ga.; brothers, Garth Meinke, Belize, Central America, James Meinke, Lakeland; sisters, Ruth A. Meinke, Ava M. Cooley, both of Lakeland; two grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, or the SPCA in Lakeland.
Lakeland Funeral Home.
