James Joseph Mills
MELROSE -- James Joseph "Jimmy" Mills of Melrose died from injuries sueffered in an auto accident Saturday. He was 32.
Mr. Mills was service manager for A & D Refrigeration and Appliance Co. in Gainesville.
He was born in Jacksonville and grew up in Melrose and in Galveston, Texas.
Mr. Mills was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a volunteer for a youth league baseball organization in Melrose. He was a member of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Hawthorne.
He is survived by his parents, Kelly and Mary Mills of Melrose; two brothers, Mark Mills of Orange Heights and Michael Mills of Melrose; and two sisters, Debra O'Berry of Orange Heights and Connie Pons of Windsor.
The family requests that expressions of sympathy be made in Mr. Mills' name as donations to Right-to-Life, Food for the Poor or any Melrose-based youth league baseball team.
Hannah and Halie Overstreet-Boyette
Hannah and Halie Overstreet-Boyette, stillborn twins, died on Sunday at Shands at the University of Florida following a miscarriage.
Survivors include their parents, Donna Boyette and Morris Overstreet of Old Town; a brother, Joseph Patton Overstreet of Old Town; grandparents Franklin and Christine Boyette of Old Town, and Ortha Mills of Chiefland; and great-grandparents Ercho Boyette of Old Town and Liza Collins of Cedar Key.
Martha Lucile Peacock
Martha Lucile Peacock of Gainesville died Monday in Gainesville. She was 52.
She fought a 30-year battle against multiple sclerosis.
A lifelong resident of Gainesville, Ms. Peacock was a writer.
She attended University City Church of Christ.
She was the great-granddaughter of T.B. Springfellow, an Alachua County pioneer.
She is survived by her brother, Thomas Sterling Peacock of Colorado Springs.
Abrena W. Sandefur
Abrena W. Sandefur of Gainesville died Monday at her home following a sudden illness. She was 80.
Mrs. Sandefur was born in Mascotte and moved to Gainesville in 1945. She was a legal assistant. She was also a member of First United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde W. Sandefur.
She is survived by a daughter, A. Lynn Sandefur-Gardner of Gainesville; a son, Jeffrey T. Gardner of Gainesville; and one grandchild.
Margaret Virginia Shreve-Austin
Margaret Virginia Shreve-Austin of Gainesville died of natural causes Wednesday at Oaks Residential Center. She was 76.
Mrs. Shreve-Austin was born in in Tampa and moved to Gainesville from Miami in 1973.
A hairdresser, Mrs. Shreve-Austin was a member of Women of the Moose, the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Gainesville, the American Legion and was a leader in both the Cub Scouts and the Girl Scouts.
Survivors include four daughters, Linda E. Dawson of Lantana, Cynthia A. McMillen and Laura Ellen Abold, both of Gainesville, and Betty J. Willis of Worthington Springs; a son, William A. Shreve of Gainesville; two sisters, Carol Gomez and Olga Lopez, both of Miami; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. James Smith
FORT WHITE -- James "Fletcher" Smith of Fort White died Sunday at Integrated Health Services in Gainesville after an extended illness. He was 88.
Mr. Smith, born in Williston, had lived in Fort White for the last 19 years.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of High Springs and active in the Promise Keepers. Having retired, he had operated several businesses in St. Petersburg and later Smitty's Mobile Home Service in Hudson. He enjoyed woodworking and all types of mechanics.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Iola Grene Smith, and his second wife, Ardella Elizabeth Smith.
He is survived by his daughter, Janis Hampshire of Gainesville; stepdaughter Betty White of High Springs; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Nina Howell Starr
HAMDEN, Conn. -- Nina Howell Starr died on May 14 at her home in Hamden, Conn. She was 97.
Mrs. Starr, was born in Newark, N.J., and lived in Gainesville from the mid-1950s until 1965. A photographer and writer, she was awarded her master's of Fine Arts from the University of Florida in 1963.
She is known for her photographic study of Florida folk art conducted during her time in Gainesville. Mrs. Starr's self-portrait, "Regarding Myself, " was published in the "Life Yearbook of Photography" in 1979.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Nathan Comfort Starr, in 1981.
Mrs. Starr is survived by two daughters, Margot Starr Kernan of Baltimore and Penelope Comfort Starr of San Anselmo, Calif.; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Joseph D'Aprile
BRONSON -- Joseph D'Aprile died unexpectedly Wednesday at his residence in Bronson. He was 88.
Mr. D'Aprile was born and lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he owned an oil business. He retired and moved to Bronson in 1975.
He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and was engaged in the China, Burma and India theater of operations.
He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Moose Lodge, the Sons of Italy, AARP and the Knights of Columbus, where he served as an officer.
He was a Catholic and attended Holy Family Catholic Church in Williston, where he served as a minister of hospitality.
Mr. D'Aprile was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn D'Aprile.
He has no immediate survivors.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the Holy Family Catholic Church Building Fund.
William Elmer Ross
STEINHATCHEE -- William Elmer "Dink" Ross, a lifelong resident of Taylor County, died Tuesday at his home following a lengthy illness. He was 82.
Mr. Ross was a train firefighter before joining the Army Air Corps, where he served for 7 years. After leaving the service, he returned home and became a commercial fisherman and guide until his retirement in 1999.
He is survived by his wife, Inez Allen Ross of Steinhatchee; three daughters, Faith Reed, Mary Ross and Mira Ross Glover, all of Steinhatchee; three sons, Bebo Ross, Tracy Ross and Lawrence Ross, all of Steinhatchee; a sister, Beatrice Taylor of Perry; two brothers, Jim Ross of Gibson Beach and Bunny Ross of Perry; 13 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Waylon Calhoun
CROSS CITY -- Waylon "Chops" Calhoun of Cross City died unexpectedly Sunday at a friend's residence in Cross City. He was 18.
A native of Iowa, Mr. Calhoun moved to Cross City seven years ago.
He is survived by his mother, Rose Calhoun of Port Richey; his father, Norman Calhoun of Mount Pleasant, Iowa; twin sisters, Sara and Harley Calhoun, both of Port Richey; and two brothers, Travis Calhoun of Cross City and Mitch Calhoun of Linton, N.D.; and his uncle and caretaker, Coleman Elliott of Cross City.
Earl Hines
HIGH SPRINGS -- Earl Hines died Wednesday at his residence in High Springs. He was 73.
Mr. Hines was born in High Springs and lived in Orlando before returning to High Springs 20 years ago.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and he retired as a meat cutter with the U.S. Government Civil Service Department.
He was a member of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Helen Hines of High Springs; two daughters, Donna Baker of High Springs and Marcia Crocker of Ocala; a son, Mike Hines of Lake Butler; six sisters, Gladys Philman of Bell, Lucille Rose of Gainesville, Van Tomlinson and Charlotte Lewis, both of High Springs, Leona Deese of Fort White and Barbara Bielling of Alachua; two brothers, Jay Hines of Wyoming, Mich., and Howard Hines of High Springs; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Robert Lewis Johns
LIVE OAK -- Robert Lewis Johns died Wednesday at his residence in Live Oak. He was 65.
Mr. Johns was born in Fort Lauderdale and moved to Live Oak more than 50 years ago.
He was a farmer, and a member of the Elks Lodge No. 1165 and Mount Olive Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Mavis Johns of Live Oak; and his mother, Janie M. Johns.
Elmer Theodore Martin
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS -- Elmer Theodore Martin of Keystone Heights died Tuesday at Shands at Starke following a brief illness. He was 84.
Mr. Martin was born in Beardstown, Ill., and moved to Keystone Heights in 1947.
He was a retired general manager with Clay Electric Co-op. He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He was a member of the Community Church, where he served as a board member. He was also a member of the the Shrine Club and a past president of the Keystone Heights Rotary Club.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Kathryn M. Martin.
Survivors include two sons, Robert John Martin of Keystone Heights and Richard T. Martin of Chandler, Okla.; a sister, Darlene Curtain of Champaign, Ill.; six grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
