OBITUARIES

Mar 21, 2024

Ashley John (A.J.) Wooten, 56, went home to be with the LORD on Thursday, March 21st, 2024, from heart complications. He was born in Chapel Hill, N.C. to Robin Wooten, M.D., and Sarah Wooten Winslow. At the age of three, Ashley and family moved to Lakeland, FL, where he attended Carlton Palmore Elementary School, Lakeland Highlands Junior High (at...

Mar 21, 2024

Marion Rahmel of Lakeland, Florida died March 21, 2024, at Florida Presbyterian Homes. She was 99 years old. Born in Holgate, Ohio, on November 28, 1924, and came to Florida from Toledo, Ohio in 1959. She taught school at Grace Lutheran School in Saint Petersburg, Florida and Pinellas County Florida School System in Largo, Florida.

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Mar 20, 2024

Mar 20, 2024

Mar 20, 2024

Diane Elisabeth Zuercher Curtis was born March 24, 1944, in Bucyrus, Ohio, to Bette Jane Swiger Zuercher and E. D. Zuercher. As a young child, she moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where she and her elder brother, Denny, were reared by their mother and grandmother, Virge Burlingame Swiger Dunbar.

In St. Petersburg, Diane attended North...

Mar 20, 2024

Mar 20, 2024

Mar 19, 2024

Rhoda Lee Cokee passed away on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. She was born on September 11, 1934, in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

She earned her degree in Art from Roosevelt University in Chicago.

They lived in Chicago until they moved to Florida in 1974.

Rhoda enjoyed knitting and...

Mar 14, 2024

Louis Lopez Jr., age 94 of Lakeland sadly passed away on March 14, 2024.

He is survived by his three children, Louis, Leonard, Linda: sister-in-law, Norma Minardi Cohen: nephew, Daniel Fernandez. He is preceded by his wife Dolores with whom he was married for 65 years.

He was born in Tampa and was...

Mar 11, 2024

Melvin C. Talbot was born on December 27, 1952. He went to be with his Lord, March 11, 2024.

Mel worked at IMC and Mosaic for 41 years.

He married Patricia Nichols on June 22, 1991. They had nine fur babies over the years. Melvin is survived by his brothers, Charles...

Mar 11, 2024

Mar 6, 2024

Gaetano Bono, better known as Guy, passed away on March 6, 2024, at the age of 91. Guy was born on November 30, 1932, in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated from St John’s University and served in the US Air Force during the Korean War, mostly based in Alaska. He married the “girl next door” in 1959 and had two...

Mar 5, 2024

Nancy Lou Benton, 86, of Lakeland, Florida, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 5th, at her home, with her loving husband, Walt, and children by her side.

Nancy was born on June 16, 1937, in Columbus, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Mabel Ely; sisters, Ruth (Russ) Sayre, and Barbara Ely; and...

Mar 4, 2024

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Anne Cowand Eby on March 4th, 2024. Anne was the cherished wife of Leonard L. Eby, a devoted mother, and grandmother. Preceded in death by her parents, Patricia Ann Cowand and Jack Cowand, and her grandson, Jaxon Blair Buerge, Anne leaves behind a legacy of love. She was...

Mar 2, 2024

It is with a heavy heart that we announce Joseph Clayton Jefferson passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2024.

The family wishes to thank those who reached out to express their love and concern.

Joe is survived by his mother, Susie Jefferson; sister, Julie Jefferson; beloved daughters, Riley and Reagan; niece,...

Feb 24, 2024

Feb 23, 2024

Feb 23, 2024

Martha Ann Bell born in Akron, Ohio in 1947, passed away February 23, 2024, at age 76 from complications of a stroke and Parkinsons disease.

Survived by her husband, Terry Bell, son, Keith Bell (Allison); grandsons, Parker Bell, Stuart Bell, and fiancé Ashlynn Williamson; niece, Debbie Begin (Dave) and 2 great grandchildren.

Feb 22, 2024

Lakeland – Terry Allen Hunter passed away on Thursday, February 22, 2024. Terry Hunter left this world to return to the arms of his Lord and Savior, after waging a longtime valiant fight against Parkinson’s Disease

He was born in Gainesville, Florida to William P. and Alice Mae Hunter. He grew up in...

Feb 18, 2024

Rosita Navarro Martinez died at home after a lengthy illness, on Sunday, February 18, 2024, surrounded by her family. Rosita was born in Cuba and emigrated to the United States in 1960 with her husband and three young children. Living originally in Winter Garden Florida, the family moved to Lakeland in 1971.

In the 1960’s,...