Shirley Smith
A longtime Bartow resident, and familiar face in many local organizations, died this morning, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2004, at the age of 100.
Shirley Smith, a resident of Bartow for 78 years, died Jan. 15, 2004, at Life Care Center of Winter Haven. She was born July 6, 1903, in Canon, Ga., moving from that state to Bartow.
She was a member of Bartow Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Bartow Art Guild, Polk County Historical Society, Bartow Crickette Club, and Golden Age Club, and was a past grand officer of the Order of the Eastern Star in Bartow.
Mrs. Smith and her late husband, Frank B. Smith, Sr., owned and operated Frank's Mercantile Co., and Shirley & Frank's Family Store for more than 25 years.
Survivors include her son, Frank "Bubba" Smith of Bartow; a daughter, Betty Shirley Springer of South Daytona; five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Friday, Jan. 16, 6 to 8 p.m., Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, 650 East Main Street, Bartow.
Funeral: Saturday, Jan. 17, 2 p.m., Whidden-McLean Funeral Home. Interment to follow in Wildwood Cemetery.
Memorial contributions: may be made to Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1411, Bartow, 33831; Polk County Historical Society; Florida United Methodist Children's Home, 51 Main Street, Enterprise, FL 32725.
Elder David Robinson, Sr.
Elder David Robinson, Sr., 54, of Gainesville, died from complications of cancer Monday, Jan. 26, 2004.
Mr. Robinson was born in Pierce.
He was a hardware department manager at Wal-Mart, worked in shipping and receiving at Wal-Mart in Vero Beach and Gainesville, and worked 18 years as a truck driver for Union Camp.
Mr. Robinson began his work in missions at Greater Refuge Church of Our Lord in Lakeland, and went on to pastor churches in Haines City and Vero Beach.
He is survived by: his wife, Renee Robinson; his mother, Frances Kennedy of Lakeland; five daughters, Natasha Robinson-Mobley, Tawanda Robinson-Norto, and Anita Robinson-Bradford, all of Tampa, and LaTesha Bartee and Lynn Harris, both of Gainesville; three sons, David Robinson, Jr., of Jacksonville, and Matthew Leonard and Tremaine Forté, both of Lakeland; one stepson, Kevin Brinson of Gainesville; five sisters, Annie Pearl Hadley, Priscilla Squire, Gloria Williams, and Hattie Brown, all of Lakeland, and Trumilla Douglas of Bartow; five brothers, Elder James Welch of Deland, Fred Robinson of Bartow, Theodore Robinson of Lakeland, Adolphus Robinson of New York, and Wayne Robinson of Winter Haven; and 15 grandchildren.
Visitation: Friday, Jan. 30, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Greater Refuge Church of Our Lord, 1258 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave., Lakeland.
The funeral: Saturday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m., at the church.
Arrangements: Coney Funeral Home, Lakeland.
Hubert Andrew Sparks
Hubert Andrew Sparks, 76, of Fort Meade, died Thursday, Jan. 15, 2004, at Bartow Health and Rehabilitation.
Born Jan. 9, 1928, in Molton, Ala., Mr. Sparks moved to Fort Meade from Arkansas some 40 years ago.
He worked in Parks and Recreation for the City of Fort Meade for 15 years. He was Pentecostal.
Mr. Sparks is survived by: his wife, Alberta Sparks; two daughters, Judith Hancock and Angela Thornton, both of Fort Meade; two sons, Bobby Taylor of Lakeland and Andrew Sparks of Alva, Fla.; six sisters, Needith Kelley of West Memphis, Ark., Judy Martin of Keiser, Ark., Bertha Newman of Lake Wales, Mable South of Tennessee, Betty Streeter of Bassett, Ark., and Elizabeth Wilburn of West Ridge, Ark.; four brothers, Bishop Sparks of Bassett, Ark., Harold Sparks of Dyess, Ark., Jackie Sparks of Joiner, Ark., and Lee Sparks of Keiser, Ark.; 11 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Sunday, Jan. 18, from 2 to 4 p.m., at McLean Funeral Home in Fort Meade.
The funeral: Monday, Jan. 19, at 10 a.m., at Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Meade, with Rev. James L. Whittington officiating.
James F. Pierce, Jr.
James F. Pierce, Jr., 68, of Virginia Beach, Va., died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004, at Sentora Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Va.
A native of Eagle Lake, Mr. Pierce was a retired member of the United States Navy.
Survivors include one brother, John Wayne Pierce of Milton; two daughters, Barbara Stowe of Fort Washington, Md., and Sharon Pierce of North Carolina; and three grandchildren.
Visitation: Saturday, from 10 to 11 a.m., at McLean Funeral Home, Fort Meade
Funeral: Saturday, 11 a.m., at the funeral home.
Interment: Evergreen Cemetery.
Mary Winifred Sloger
Mary Winifred Sloger, 91, of Bartow, died Dec. 31, 2003, in Lakeland.
A native of Wigan, Lancashire, England, Ms. Sloger moved to Bartow from New York upon her retirement.
Survivors include: one daughter, Joan Thayer of Bartow, two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
The funeral: Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 9 a.m., at St. Thomas Catholic Church, 2180 Kissingen Ave., in Bartow.
Arrangements: Robarts Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Bartow.
John Patterson
John Patterson, 78, of Bartow, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004, at his residence.
Born Oct. 31, 1925, in Bellaire, Ohio, Mr. Patterson moved to Bartow in 1961.
He was a maintenance worker in the phosphate industry. He was a member of the American Legion Post 3, York Rite, Grand Council #42, the Egypt Shrine in Tampa, Masonic Lodge #12, and Masonic Lodge #6.
Mr. Patterson was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War.
Survivors include: his wife, Odessa Patterson; two sons, Greg Patterson of Apollo Beach and Mark C. Patterson of Lake-land; four daughters, Debbie Wetherington of Cummings, Ga., Patty Church of Powhaten Point, Ohio, and Jackie Fillingim and Bess Jo Patterson, both of Bartow; two brothers, Edwin Patterson of Lakeland and Wayne Patterson of Neffs, Ohio; one sister, Dorothy Marple of Bartow; 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Sunday, Jan. 4, from 2 to 3 p.m., at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home Southside in Lakeland.
The funeral will follow at 3 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions: to a cancer or stroke association.
John W. Heinlein
John W. Heinlein, 86, of Bartow, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004, at Savannah Court.
Born April 12, 1917, in Logan, Ohio, Mr. Heinlein moved to Bartow from Ohio 23 years ago.
He was a supervisor for Continental Can Co.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, was active in the Salvation Army for many years, and was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America for more than 50 years. He was a Gideon, and a military veteran.
Survivors include one son, Steve Heinlein of Dallas, Tex.; one daughter, Carole A. Pore of Lexington, Ohio; one sister, Mary Ann Boeshart of Winter Haven; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Visitation: Monday, 6 to 8 p.m. at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home.
Funeral: Tuesday, 11 a.m., at graveside at Wildwood Cemetery, with Rev. James B. Hatch officiating.
Memorial contributions: Boy Scouts of America, 4410 Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, Fla., or the Salvation Army, Box 928, Lakeland, Fla. 33802.
