OBITUARIES

May 4, 2023

On May 4, 2023, God gently took one of his Earth Angels to heaven.

Lisa Deanne Melton went home after serving her Jesus for 60 years on this earth.

The family she influenced so profoundly, with her love, her spirit of good, her forgiveness of anyone unkind to her,...

May 2, 2023

Edna Mae Ayotte, 79 of Lakeland passed away on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. She was born on November 16, 1943, in Kissimmee, FL to the late Oscar Virgil Rice and Lera Mae Rice.

She was preceded in death by her twin brother, Oscar Edward Rice.

Edna was employed for...

May 1, 2023

Roxanne Delores McQuillen passed away on May 1, 2023, at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. Roxanne was born in Johnstown, PA on December 18, 1944. She was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church of Lakeland.

Roxanne graduated from Central Cambria High School in 1962 and received her BA in Music Education...

Apr 30, 2023

Geraldine Lancaster Fraker (Gerry) passed away on April 30, 2023, at 84, in Lakeland, Florida. She was born on August 15, 1938, in Spartanburg, SC, to John Lee Lancaster Jr and Dorothy Bulman Lancaster.

Gerry was a devoted elementary teacher with a gift for helping children with learning disabilities. She was known for her patience...

Apr 27, 2023

Apr 27, 2023

On April 27, 2023, Joan A. Anderson of Lakeland, FI, loving wife of James D Anderson (Jim),

passed away at the age of 95. Joan was born on April 5, 1928, in Muskegon, Michigan, to Raymond and Kathreen Ammerman.

She graduated from Lakeland High School,

Joan is preceded in...

Apr 27, 2023

Michael Candler Mullens, Jr., 38, of Lakeland, Florida passed away on April 27, 2023, at home.

Born in Lakeland to Kathy and Mike Mullens on March 18, 1985, Michael was a 2003 graduate of Lakeland High School, where he was an active participant in sports and church activities at First Presbyterian Church. He continued his...

Apr 25, 2023

Apr 22, 2023

Carrie Elizabeth Gard, 42, of Lakeland, passed away on April 22nd, 2023, surrounded by her family. Carrie was born on September 20th, 1980, to David and Carol Digby in Atlanta, Georgia. After Carrie graduated from Shiloh High School in 1998, she went on to study Criminal Justice at Georgia Southern College. Carrie moved to Lakeland, FL to start her...

Apr 19, 2023

On April 19, 2023, David Anderson, of Lakeland, FL, loving husband of Mary Lib Anderson (Mary E), passed away at the age of 70. David was born on October 13, 1952, in Lakeland to Joan and Jim Anderson.

He graduated from Lakeland High School and USF.

David is survived by his...

Apr 19, 2023

George Randall Lovering passed away at his home on April 19, 2023, surrounded by his family. Randall was born on July 24, 1937, in Lakeland, Florida.

He was proceeded in death by his beloved mother, Gertrude Foshee Lovering, his father, George Blacksher Lovering, and his sister, Dixie Rebecca Lovering.

Randall is...

Apr 18, 2023

The Reverend Dr. Richard Rome (Dick) Burnette, Jr. of Lakeland, Florida died in his sleep on Tuesday, April 18th, 2023, at the age of 95. He was born in Bowling Green, Virginia to Reverend Richard R Burnett and Mary Allen Lee Burnette, the first of their three children. He was married to Carol Ravndal Burnette for 66 years. A...

Apr 16, 2023

Sarah Evelyn Hargrove Brunson, 92, of Lakeland, Florida, went to be with her Lord on April 16, 2023. She was born in Opp, Alabama on May 5, 1930.

She earned her B.S. degree in Education at Florida State University. She married her husband, Foye Timothy Brunson of 57 years, on November 13, 1952. She taught...

Apr 15, 2023

Siphanh Vorasane, 85, passed in peace on April 15, 2023 at his home in Bartow with his family by his side. He was born October 5, 1938 in Luang Prabang, Laos, son to Chanda Pakdee and Khampeng Rattana and brother to Phang and Onsy.

Siphanh, a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, is...

Apr 14, 2023

Apr 13, 2023

Ellen Daughtrey Jones, 74 years of age, of Lakeland, Florida passed away on April 13, 2023, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

Ellen was born in Lakeland, Florida on November 18, 1948, to the late Dr. John Estes Daughtrey and Mae Doster. She was the oldest of 3 siblings.

She graduated from...

Apr 12, 2023

Apr 12, 2023

Eugene E. Robson, Jr, 74, of Lakeland, died on April 12, 2023. He was born on March 7, 1949, here in Lakeland.

Eugene served as a Marine and attained a purple heart for his service during Vietnam.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Louise Robson.

...

Apr 10, 2023

Barbara Hudgins-Mitchell passed away on April 10, 2023. She was born in Lowndes County, Alabama and has lived in Lakeland since 1966.

She was a member of Scott Lake Baptist Church. Barbara was an administrator for the Law Firm of Wendel, Chritton and Parks for many years before her retirement in 1997.

Apr 8, 2023

Marie Ballard Caudill passed away peacefully at home with family on April 8, 2023, at the age of 93. The daughter of Ira Ballard and Bessie Ballard, Marie was born in Plant City, FL, on June 12, 1929, and was a lifelong resident of Florida.

She retired from The Florida Division of Forestry in 1996....