OBITUARIES

Jan 11, 2024

David Allen Gentry, 81, died peacefully at his home in Lakeland, Florida, on January 11, 2024, with family nearby and his wife of 60 years, Judith Stanger Gentry, at his side. David was born October 15, 1942, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the first of the two sons of Donald Gentry, who soon shipped out to serve with the Army Corps...

Jan 10, 2024

Our beloved, Sylvia Lee Pearce, went to be with the Lord on 01/10/2024 surrounded by her family in Lakeland, FL. She was 86 years old.

Sylvia was born in Raleigh, NC on January 20, 1937 to Mary Adaphne Matthews (Mary) and William Paul Matthews (Bill); she was the oldest of the four children. Sylvia spent...

Jan 9, 2024

Jan 8, 2024

Jan 8, 2024

Jacquelene (Jackie) Cooper Wheeler, 93, passed from this life into her eternal home with her dear Savior and Lord on January 8, 2024. Jackie was born at Fort Benning, GA. in the base hospital on November 20, 1930, to James L. Cooper of Selma, Alabama, and Mattie B. (Miller) Cooper of Columbus, GA.

She grew...

Jan 6, 2024

Mary Coil Barker went with the Lord on January 6, 2024. Mary was born in Gillett, PA. She came to Lakeland in 1972. Worked at Bunker Hill Dodge, and for several years at Publix in retail accounting.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Tracy and Leona Clark, Sr.; husband, Wesley C. Coil; second...

Jan 3, 2024

On the night of January 3rd, 2024, Philip Timothy Lord went to be with his heavenly

Father after a battle with cancer. He went calmly and softly in his sleep surrounded

by his family.

Philip, known to all as Tim, was...

Jan 2, 2024

William (Bill) Verplanck of Lakeland Florida passed away Tuesday morning January 2, 2024. Bill was born January 20, 1950, in Edmore, Michigan where he grew up. He was a graduate of Edmore High School, class of 1968. He was drafted into the army in 1969 during the Vietnam war and served two years in Germany. After the service Bill...

Jan 2, 2024

Frederick Vincent Gifun of Lakeland, FL was born August 11, 1939, and passed away on January 2, 2024, at the age of 84. He succumbed to non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, caused by an inherited auto-immune condition.

Fred lived a full life, starting with humble beginnings in Boston’s Jamaica Plain. He received his BA from...

Dec 28, 2023

Dec 28, 2023

Dec 27, 2023

Dec 25, 2023

Businessman, civic leader, and loving husband, father, and grandfather, James Edward DeLoach, 88, passed away suddenly on Christmas Day 2023, following a morning of delivering gifts and preparing for his family's Christmas gathering at his and his wife's home.

Ed, as everyone knew him, was born on Nov. 23, 1935, in Great Falls, South Carolina,...

Dec 25, 2023

Eleanor B. Oppermann (nee Boehler) of Lakeland, Florida, formerly of Wantagh, New York, passed away on Monday, December 25, 2023.

Ellie was the beloved wife of the late John T. Oppermann (2000), to whom she was married for over 40 years. She leaves behind her beautiful family, son, John Michael Oppermann (Susan Helms) and daughter,...

Dec 24, 2023

Dec 23, 2023

Marian Joan Hoff Lewis, 93, passed away peacefully at her home in Lakeland, Florida, on December 23, 2023. Marian was born on February 20, 1930, in Wishek, North Dakota, the daughter of Nellie Fraser Hoff and William Friedrich Hoff. She grew up in Wishek and Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, lived in San Francisco, California during World War II, and...

Dec 22, 2023

LAKELAND – Mason Carmichael Mays passed away peacefully on December 22, 2023, after a short illness. She was surrounded by her family. In departing this world, she leaves behind a legacy as a devoted wife, beloved mother and grandmother, respected friend, mentor, and community leader.

Her parents, Beulah, and Parks Carmichael preceded her in death....

Dec 21, 2023

Lakeland, FL - Helen Mae Wilkerson, born on October 8, 1940, in Greene, NY, peacefully passed away on December 21, 2023, in Lakeland, FL, surrounded by her loving family. She was predeceased by her first husband, Francis Miller, her second husband, Tony Wilkerson, her beloved firstborn son, Henry Miller, and her dear sister, Irene Willoughby.

...

Dec 17, 2023

Andy passed away on December 17, 2023. In his final few weeks, he was surrounded by those who loved him until his last breath.

Andy was preceded in death by his parents Ollie and Lenton, sister Geraldine, brothers Franklin and Wilton.

He is survived by his loving wife Thelma; brothers Bobby and Lawton,...

Dec 16, 2023

Jeri-Anne Polzin, 81, of Lakeland, passed away on December 16th, 2023 at Lakeland Regional Hospital.

She was born on January 9th, 1942 to Thomas & Frances Harwell in Chicago, IL.

Jeri is survived by her granddaughter, Kellie; nephew, Dion (Denise) & niece, Kim.

She’s preceded in death...