Richard S. Newmans, Sr.
Richard S. Newmans, Sr., 78, of Highland City, died Monday, March 29, 2004, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.
Born Jan. 20, 1926, in McClenny, Fla., Mr. Newmans moved to Highland City more than 54 years ago.
He was a carpenter, employed by Polk County B.O.C.C. He was of the Christian faith.
Mr. Newmans is survived by: his wife of 54 years, Ermie Newmans; three daughters, LaVerne Evans and Jan Jones, both of Lakeland, and Jeanie Kirkland of Highland City; one son, Richard S. Newmans, Jr., of Highland City; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Tuesday, March 30, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Lakeland Funeral Home.
The funeral: Wednesday, March 31, at 2 p.m., at Oak Hill Burial Park.
Lola V. Polk
Lola V. Polk, 90, of Wauchula, died Tuesday, March 22, 2004, in Bartow.
Born in Duette, Fla., Mrs. Polk was a resident of Hardee County most of her life.
She was a homemaker, and was a member of First Baptist Church of Wauchula.
Mrs. Polk was preceded in death by her husband, Fred G. Polk. She is survived by: two sons and daughters-in-law, Freeman F. and Gwen Polk of Dade City, and Clinton Monroe and Mary Polk of Fort Meade; five grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Friday, March 26, at 10 a.m., at First Baptist Church of Wauchula.
The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. in the chapel, with Rev. Harrison Conley officiating.
Interment: Wauchula Cemetery.
Arrangements: Robarts Family Funeral Home, Wauchula.
Elizabeth R. Long
Elizabeth R. Long, 84, of Fort Meade, died Thursday, March 25, 2004, in Bartow.
A native of Dukane, Penn., Mrs. Long moved here from Tennessee 16 years ago.
She was a steelworker for U.S. Steel.
Mrs. Long was preceded in death by her husband, George Long, Sr. Survivors include: her son and daughter-in-law, George Long, Jr., and Diane; one brother, Pete Lencosky, Jr., of Pennsylvania; two sisters, Sally Thomas of Peoria Ill., and Audrey Felona of California; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Sunday, March 28, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Brant Funeral Chapel in Wauchula.
The funeral: Monday, March 29, at 10 a.m., at Evergreen Cemetery, with Rev. Tony Martin officiating.
Clarence Collins
Clarence Collins, 65, of Bartow, died Wednesday, March 24, 2004, at his residence.
Mr. Collins was born Dec. 7, 1938, in Mulberry.
He was a truck driver.
Survivors include: three sons, Mark Lewis of Bartow, Kenneth Collins of Lakeland, and Jerome Collins of Auburndale; two daughters, Patricia Scott and April Collins, both of Lakeland; one brother, L.C. Baker, Jr., of Bartow; his mother, Hattie Mae (Clayton) Williams of Bartow; and 13 grandchildren.
Visitation: Friday, April 2, from 3 to 8 p.m., at Gause Funeral Home in Bartow.
The funeral: Saturday, April 3, at 11 a.m., at Fifth Avenue Church of Christ, 444 South Fifth Avenue, Bartow.
Interment: Wildwood Cemetery, Bartow.
Beverly Jean Belflower
Beverly Jean Belflower, 66, of Bartow, died Saturday, March 27, 2004, at Good Shepherd Hospice Care Center in Auburndale.
Born May 28, 1937, in Flint, Mich., Mrs. Belflower moved to Bartow from Lakeland in 1981.
She was a homemaker.
A member of the Bartow Garden Club since 1987, Mrs. Belflower held many elected offices, including president of the club and of the Live Oak Circle. She also served as public relations chairman for the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, and she received numerous awards for her work in the Garden Club, including both a state and national award for a workbook entitled "Incredible Insects."
While serving as Birds and Butterflies chairman for FFGC District Nine, Mrs. Belflower authored a book entitled "Bird Tales," which has been distributed throughout the country. Her poetry entitled "Nature's Classroom" was chosen to be published in "Wildflower Expressions," composed by National Garden Clubs, Inc.
For her dedication and service to the Bartow Garden Club, she was honored by receiving a life membership in the National Council of Garden Clubs, and a life membership in the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs.
A brick at the FFGC State Headquarters was donated in her name, and a brick at Bartow's Fort Blount Park.
Mrs. Belflower has served as the director of District Nine, and for this was presented a Hall of Fame award.
She was an accredited flower show judge and a creative floral designer. Her six-foot tall creative design in fluorescent colors, shown in a darkened room with only black-lighting, won Best in Class in the FFGC state flower show in 1997.
In the Bartow Garden Club's fashion shows, Mrs. Belflower was a "lovely and sometimes humorous model," said a fellow club member, and when the movie "My Girl" was filmed in Bartow, she delighted in being an extra in the street scenes.
Mrs. Belflower is survived by: her husband, Kenneth Belflower; one son, Dennis Myrick of Allison Park, Pa.; one daughter, Beth Euliano of Erie, Pa.; two sisters, Joyce Currie of Pen Valley, Cal., and Sharon Gourd of Corte Madera, Cal.; and two grandchildren.
Visitation: Wednesday, March 31, from 2 to 3 p.m., at Robarts Funeral Home in Bartow.
The funeral will follow at 3 p.m. in the funeral home chapel, with Rev. Charles Clendinen of the Bartow Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church officiating.
Interment: Wildwood Cemetery, Bartow.
Joel E. Stokes
Joel E. Stokes, 69, of Bartow, died Monday, March 22, 2004, at his residence.
Born May 6, 1934, in Black, Ala., Mr. Stokes moved to Hardee County as a child, and came to Polk County 20 years ago.
He was a retired district manager at Conger Insurance Company. He was a member of Wahneta Assembly of God.
Mr. Stokes liked antique cars, and he enjoyed spending time and working on things with his family. He also enjoyed playing the guitar and singing, and going to the mountains in North Carolina.
He is survived by: his wife, Carolyn Stokes; two daughters, Cindy Oswald of Leesville, S.C., and Dodie Fountain of Glendale, Miss.; four sons, Bobby Stokes of Palm Harbor, and Mike Dodd, Marty Stokes, and Jerry Stokes, all of Bartow; one sister, Jewell Skitka of Zolfo Springs; 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Visitation: Wednesday, March 24, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales.
The funeral: Thursday, March 25, at 10 a.m., at the funeral home, with Rev. Wayne Carroll and Rev. James Farrow officiating.
Interment: a private family cemetery in Bartow.
Memorial contributions: to a charity of choice.
